The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, occlusive coronary atherosclerosis and systemic hypertension, is related to his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
The deciding factor: The private physician's opinion linked the diagnosis of occlusive coronary atherosclerosis and systemic hypertension to the Veteran's shrapnel injuries in service and supported that opinion with a well-reasoned rationale.
- Claimed conditions
- occlusive coronary atherosclerosis, systemic hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21061954
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,240 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 21061954.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hand degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post thoracic compression fracture, systemic hypertension, esophageal reflux and chronic gastritis, left leg neuropathy, and right leg neuropathy. The case will also be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any sleep disorder, ulcerative colitis, and sinusitis/allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any service-connected conditions or exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Denied
The veteran's claim for pension with special monthly pension benefits was denied due to his income exceeding the maximum annual limit set by law.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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