The veteran's death was caused by suicide, which the Board found to be due to service-connected disabilities and personal legal problems.,The veteran had a combined 100% disability rating for his service-connected conditions from April 1989 until his death in April 1998.
The deciding factor: The veteran's suicide was determined to have been caused by mental unsoundness due to service-connected disabilities and personal legal problems.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid, left true vocal cord paralysis with severe hoarseness, scarring from left modified radical neck dissection, lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow, sacroiliac arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 2, 2000
- Citation
- 0011545
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 0011545.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for lateral epicondylitis of both elbows has been granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for sacroiliac pain and arthritis were denied in April 2019. The VA Form 10182 received by the VA on April 27, 2022 was not valid as it did not identify an appealable decision regarding the issues with which the Veteran disagreed.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow, left hip iliopsoas and iliotibial tendinopathy, right hip iliopsoas and iliotibial tendinopathy, metatarsalgia of the left foot, chronic ankle sprain with tendinopathy, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with foraminal narrowing, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with foraminal narrowing, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to active service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed lumbar and sacroiliac arthritis, which is confirmed by radiographic imaging, is related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a low back disorder is granted.
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