The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s cause of death was due to refractory cardiogenic shock with ischemic cardiomyopathy and end-stage coronary artery disease, which are not related to his service-connected conditions or presumed exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy, Refractory carcinogenic shock
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20031368
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20031368.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his heart condition was not related to his military service and could not be presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking his heart condition to asbestos exposure during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to chronic suppurative otitis media, which aggravated the Veteran's pre-existing heart conditions and led to his fall resulting in death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ischemic heart disease was related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and contributed substantially to his death.
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