The veteran's suicide by gunshot wound to the head was not related to any mental disorder during service, and there is no competent medical evidence demonstrating a relationship between his cause of death and any incident of service. The claim for service connection for the veteran's cause of death is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no indication that the veteran's suicide by gunshot wound to the head was related to any mental disorder which had its onset during service, as he repeatedly denied other psychiatric symptoms or suicidal ideations and his May 1997 separation examination reported a normal psychiatric evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- gunshot wound of head, bronchitis, chronic sinusitis with headaches, scar residuals of a laceration to the right forearm and hand, fracture of the 4th metacarpal of the right hand, major, papilloma lesion of the upper interior lip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2000
- Citation
- 0025855
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 0025855.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for frequent urination, erectile dysfunction, chronic pain multiple joints, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and chronic bradycardia, acid reflux, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the presence of service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bronchitis, OSA as secondary to rhinitis, and migraine headaches as secondary to hypertension or OSA. The AOJ will need to provide additional medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions, including considering the synergistic effects of all relevant exposures.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection for bronchitis has been dismissed because the benefit was granted in a previous rating decision.
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