The Board found that the service-connected loss of skull area and traumatic encephalopathy contributed to the cause of death due to metastatic cancer, and granted service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The service-connected disorders affected a vital organ (the brain) with symptoms affecting vital body functions and were not quiescent or static, potentially rendering the veteran less capable of resisting the effects of cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of skull area, traumatic encephalopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 13, 2002
- Citation
- 0201479
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 0201479.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and traumatic encephalopathy to afford the Veteran VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that his cause of death is unrelated to his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is not related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically residuals of skull fracture and traumatic encephalopathy. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s death to these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing the appellant's status as a substitute claimant, rather than on an accrued benefits basis.
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