The Veteran's service-connected residuals of patent ductus arteriosus repair were found to have contributed substantially and materially to his hypertensive heart disease, which was the cause of death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The residual symptoms from the Veteran’s patent ductus arteriosus repair contributed to the development of cardiomegaly and other markers of cardiac dysfunction that decreased the Veteran's capacity to withstand hypertension, leading to hypertensive heart disease and ultimately his death.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive heart disease, intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20060432
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 20060432.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2025.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertensive heart disease, chest condition, left arm condition, right arm condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.
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