The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, increased DIC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, and continued payment of Chapter 35 benefits. The decision was based on the prohibition against service connection for tobacco-related disabilities enacted in 1998.
The deciding factor: The law prohibits service connection for a disability resulting from the use of tobacco products during service, which applied to claims filed after June 9, 1998. As the veteran's heart disease was already service-connected and linked to his tobacco use during service, the Board denied these claims.
- Claimed conditions
- heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2001
- Citation
- 0123404
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 0123404.
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 Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and requests medical opinions on the etiology of his coronary artery disease, GERD with dyspepsia, and upper respiratory infection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure have been granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim for glaucoma has been denied as not related to service-connected conditions or in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for heart failure is granted secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange during service. The claims are now pending for further development.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal seeking an effective date prior to January 23, 2014, for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed due to his death.
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