The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from interstitial lung disease and ischemic cardiomyopathy, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.
The deciding factor: The examiner found that the Veteran's heart disability was caused or aggravated by unhealthy lifestyle habits, including smoking, but also acknowledged a possible link between PTSD and physical conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- interstitial lung disease – asbestosis, ischemic cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19188260
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19188260.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to active military service and exposure to toxins.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing his systolic heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease to active military service, including exposure to toxins.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension and the cause of death, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic cardiomyopathy, diabetes type II, and left lower extremity PAD are remanded. The Board needs more information about the Veteran's exposures during service.
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