The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's alcoholism or other conditions to his active service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence relating the veteran's diagnosed conditions (alcoholism, malnutrition, and chronic cystitis) to his period of active service from July 1950 to July 1953.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple hypovitaminosis, Malnutrition, Chronic alcoholism, Chronic cystitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2000
- Citation
- 0031731
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 0031731.
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 service-connected disabilities, including Loss of Use of Both Feet with Sciatic and Femoral Nerve Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both feet. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as the evidence did not support a finding that his CVA or other conditions were related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death, weight loss, and GI issues.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the previous decision, including an inadequate VA medical opinion and failure to consider lay statements. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is believed to have caused or contributed to his death by causing him to refuse hospitalization prior to his death.
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