The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (pulmonary thromboemboli and carcinoma of the stomach) were not related to his military service or any service-connected disability, leading to a denial of both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no evidence linking the veteran's conditions to his military service or any service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary thromboemboli, massive, bilateral, due to or as a consequence of thrombosis of left femoral vein, carcinoma of the stomach
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0323489
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 0323489.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise a January 1980 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable disability rating for chondromalacia, patellas, bilateral. The RO did not commit clear and unmistakable error in applying the law at the time.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death is due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, which is presumed related to herbicide exposure during temporary duty trips to Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including medical records that did not provide a nexus between the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange and his death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis, bilateral, warrants a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7804. The condition is manifested by migratory painful rashes covering less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas and treated with non-corticosteroid topical treatment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.