The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and entitlement to dependents' educational assistance benefits.
The deciding factor: The cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders that were the immediate causes of the veteran's death did not have their onset during service or within one year after separation from service. The appellant could not provide competent medical evidence linking these post-service conditions to his period of military service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral defective hearing, residuals of malaria, scar from a shell fragment wound of the left deltoid region, scar from a shell fragment wound of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2000
- Citation
- 0009965
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0009965.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Granted
The Board has granted the readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, as new and relevant evidence was received.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residuals of malaria and a TDIU are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's previous instructions. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of malaria is remanded for another VA examination, while the TDIU claim is remanded in conjunction with the malaria rating issue.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 18, 2019 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The medical evidence did not support his claim of being unable to work due to these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a skin disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of malaria is denied as there is no current diagnosis of malaria residuals.
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