The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD.,For DIC benefits, the criteria are not met as the Veteran did not meet the total disability rating requirement for a period of at least 10 years prior to his death.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that service connection for cause of death is warranted due to the evidence showing coronary artery disease contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death from COPD.,For DIC benefits, the criteria are not met as the Veteran did not meet the total disability rating requirement for a period of at least 10 years prior to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Severe peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21039828
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 21039828.
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.
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- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no competent evidence linking any principal or contributory cause of his death to his service.
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