The veteran died of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examiner could not determine the underlying cause of the veteran's ruptured abdominal aneurysm, but opined it was less likely than not related to his active military service or service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- ruptured abdominal aneurysm, anxiety reaction with gastric symptoms, psoriasis, arthritis of the shoulders, ankles, wrists, left knee, cervical spine, otitis media, arthralgia of the right knee, myalgia of the thighs and legs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2001
- Citation
- 0118340
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0118340.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for psoriasis and a higher initial disability rating.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted with an effective date of August 14, 2023. The appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including cervical spine, chronic fatigue, and various nerve damages, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to in-service events.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, veinous insufficiency, and diabetes due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's military service.
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