The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied entitlement to accrued benefits as there were no pending claims at the time of his death.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinions provided a clear explanation that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD materially contributed to his death. The Board found these opinions more persuasive than the VA opinion and granted service connection for the cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiomyopathy, amyloidosis, adrenal insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22059288
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 22059288.
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 decided that the Veteran's amyloidosis is due to exposure to herbicide agents, but there was a duty to assist error in not obtaining an opinion on whether his ATTR amyloidosis is a form of AL amyloidosis or if it is related to herbicide agent exposure. The case is being remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.
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