The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his death to any service-connected disability or period of active duty.
The deciding factor: The death certificate listed lymphedema with secondary bacterial infection as the immediate cause of death. The veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but no medical opinion linked these conditions to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Lymphedema, Secondary bacterial infection of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2000
- Citation
- 0025126
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 0025126.
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 Veteran's lymphedema is rated at 100% effective from April 18, 2012. His depressive disorder is rated at 70%. The other conditions are either denied or have compensable ratings.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for lymphedema with post-infectious dermatitis of the right leg was denied. A 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, was granted for residual scarring from post-infectious dermatitis of the right leg.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for PTSD due to an incomplete request for private medical records, while denying the appeal for service connection for lymphedema as it is not on appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection for bladder cancer was granted with an effective date of March 14, 2017. The Veteran's increased ratings for lymphedema were denied.
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