The veteran's death was caused by a combination of service-connected conditions, including his anxiety neurosis and gunshot wound residuals, as well as other significant conditions like severe malnutrition and tuberculosis. The Board found that these conditions contributed substantially to the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion indicated that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not directly cause his death but collectively resulted in such debilitation as to raise a reasonable doubt about their contribution to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- septicemia, severe dehydration (cardiorespiratory arrest), multiple bedsores (infected), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), severe malnutrition, anxiety neurosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 16, 2002
- Citation
- 0218206
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 0218206.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied DIC and survivors' pension benefits due to the lack of evidence linking septicemia to service, and because the Appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of CUE in the June 1972 and March 1991 rating decisions for initial adjudication by the AOJ.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of the July 1980 rating decision, finding that it did not commit an error in failing to adjudicate a claim for service connection for 'delayed stress reaction.' The July 1980 rating decision was found to be final and correct as applied at the time.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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