The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, concluding that his alcohol-related condition was not related to his service-connected back disability and that he died from alcohol abuse.
The deciding factor: The veteran's death was attributed to alcohol abuse, which is not compensable under VA regulations. The Board found no evidence linking his death to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.
- Claimed conditions
- Aspiration pneumonia of the left lower lobe, Abscess due to probable sepsis, Fatty liver, Gastritis, Acute tubular necrosis of the kidneys
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 24, 2001
- Citation
- 0121495
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 0121495.
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 appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain examination reports and determine if the service-connected conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as non-compensable prior to January 17, 2025, and as 10 percent disabling thereafter.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's original 60 percent rating for GERD with gastritis, finding that the reduction from January 2021 was improper due to lack of evidence showing improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for higher initial staged ratings for an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed due to the doctrine of res judicata.,The issue of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been fully adjudicated and is dismissed as there are no remaining questions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.