BVA9500159 
DOCKET NO.  92-13 590     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's
death.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

W. H. Wetmore, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from July 1958 to July 1961 and
from May 1962 to May 1979.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) received this case on
appeal from a March 1991 rating decision.

CONTENTIONS OF APPELLANT ON APPEAL

The appellant contends that the onset of the veteran's fatal
heart disease was in service.

DECISION OF THE BOARD

The Board, in accordance with the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A.
§ 7104 (West 1991), has reviewed and considered all of the
evidence and material of record in the veteran's claims file.
Based on its review of the relevant evidence in this matter, and
for the following reasons and bases, it is the decision of the
Board that the preponderance of the evidence supports a grant of
service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.  The veteran's death in August 1990 was caused by left
coronary artery thrombosis with probable acute cardiac
arrhythmia.

2.  The veteran's fatal heart disease probably had its onset
during his extensive period of active duty.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The veteran's heart disease, which was the cause of his death,
was incurred in peacetime service.  38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101, 1110,
1112, 1113, 1131, 5107, 7104 (West 1991); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102,
3.303, 3.304, 3.307, 3.309, 3.312 (1993).

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

The Board finds the veteran's claims to be well grounded within
the meaning of 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107 because they are plausible.
Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 78 (1991).  The Board is also
satisfied that all relevant facts have been properly developed
and there is no further assistance required in order to comply
with § 5107.

A careful review of the medical records referable to the
veteran's extensive period of military service shows that he was
seen in February 1976 with a complaint of chest pain.  No cardiac
disorder was discovered.  He was hospitalized in September 1977
with a complaint of chest pain and left upper extremity weakness.
No cardiac abnormalities were found.

The veteran was hospitalized at a service hospital from July to
August 1979, shortly after service, due to a sudden onset of
crushing substernal chest pain.  It was noted that right bundle-
branch block had been diagnosed at a June 1979 examination and
that he had had a heart murmur since childhood.  The physical
findings were remarkable for a systolic murmur.  Multiple studies
were done.  There were no findings of acute changes.  The
diagnoses were right bundle-branch block and sinus bradycardia.

The veteran was treated at a service hospital in July 1990
because of atypical chest pain.  Treadmill testing then ruled out
a myocardial infarction.

The subsequent records reflect that the veteran had a probable
left coronary artery thrombosis with acute cardiac arrhythmia
while driving and died shortly after a resulting one-car accident
in August 1990.  An autopsy revealed marked arteriosclerotic
changes of the aorta and severe left anterior descending coronary
artery disease.

The Board finds that the episodes of chest pain that began in
1976 in service probably were reflective of the onset of
symptomatic coronary artery disease.  While heart disease was not
diagnosed at the time of service or in connection with treatment
shortly thereafter, it was strongly suggested.  Given the nature
and extent of the recent autopsy findings, it is reasonable to
conclude that the veteran's fatal coronary artery disease
actually began in service.

Under these circumstances, the Board finds that service
connection for the cause of the veteran's death is warranted.

ORDER

Service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is
granted.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures
Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___
(1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be
assigned to an individual member of the Board for a
determination.  This proceeding has been assigned to an
individual member of the Board.

NOTICE OF APPELLATE RIGHTS:  Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7266 (West
1991), a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals granting less
than the complete benefit, or benefits, sought on appeal is
appealable to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals within
120 days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision,
provided that a Notice of Disagreement concerning an issue which
was before the Board was filed with the agency of original
jurisdiction on or after November 18, 1988.  Veterans' Judicial
Review Act, Pub. L. No. 100-687, § 402 (1988).  The date which
appears on the face of this decision constitutes the date of
mailing and the copy of this decision which you have received is
your notice of the action taken on your appeal by the Board of
Veterans' Appeals.