The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure, with CAD as a significant contributing factor. The Board found that his CAD is presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during service and granted service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had presumed exposure to herbicide agents due to his service on USS Yorktown within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, and his CAD was found to be a result of such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- CAD, respiratory failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21003157
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 21003157.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Veteran's causes of death were not found to be service-connected, as there was no credible evidence linking the conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in May 2024, as the appellant was eligible but his claim is moot due to a calculation error and no case or controversy remains.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and three myocardial infarctions. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2017.
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