The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia contributed to his alcoholism, which in turn contributed to his death from recurrent pneumonia due to aspiration. The Board finds that this combination of factors meets the criteria for service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions provided a nexus between the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and the worsening of his alcoholism, which was a contributory cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent pneumonia, squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, ethanol abuse, encephalopathy, history of cerebral vascular accident
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2003
- Citation
- 0311871
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 0311871.
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 Board granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2021, for the award of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and related disabilities.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims, including those related to various conditions such as right foot condition, TMJ, asthma, jawbone condition, sleep apnea, kidney stones, chronic bronchitis, Alpha gal, encephalopathy, left shoulder, left ankle, cervical spine, right hip, tachycardia, loose teeth, and jawbone condition.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, but denied service connection for osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, neurocognitive disorder with Alzheimer's, hypertension, and TDIU.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and denied service connection for hernias. The issues of service connection for encephalopathy and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status were remanded.
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