The Board finds that the service-connected arthritis of the hips and lumbar spine caused or contributed to the veteran's death due to a fall at home, which was the immediate cause of his death.
The deciding factor: The service-connected arthritis of the hips and lumbar spine significantly impacted the veteran's ability to walk safely, necessitating the use of a walker. This condition is found to be a substantial factor in the veteran falling and sustaining fatal chest trauma.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the hips, lumbar spine, calcified peritendinitis of the right shoulder, calcified peritendinitis of the left shoulder, anxiety reaction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0303453
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 685 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0303453.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased rating claims for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, so the case is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylosis and other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of your appeal.
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