The Veteran's service-connected atypical chest pain and mitral valve prolapse were not found to be the principal or contributory cause of his death, which was caused by a motorcycle collision. The Board denied service connection for cause of death as there was no evidence of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam and the cardiovascular disease that led to death was not related to service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's service-connected atypical chest pain and mitral valve prolapse were not the principal or contributory cause of his death, which was caused by a motorcycle collision. The Board also found no evidence of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam and the cardiovascular disease was not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- atypical chest pain, mitral valve prolapse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065603
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected mitral valve prolapse was denied a rating in excess of 60 percent prior to January 11, 2008 and from July 12, 2008 to December 22, 2024. However, the Board granted a 100 percent rating for this condition from January 11, 2008 to July 11, 2008 and from December 23, 2024 onwards.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a disability manifested by atypical chest pain, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in August 1989.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for atypical chest pain, including atrial fibrillation, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.