The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. His DIC claim is also denied as the criteria for entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have not been met.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence shows that none of the veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his fatal cardiopulmonary arrest.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity, below the knee amputation, Incomplete paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle of the right leg, Hepatitis, Calculus of the right ureter, Scars of the left lower extremity, buttocks and right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2003
- Citation
- 0327935
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 0327935.
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: Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his alcohol-related causes of death were etiologically linked to a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied an initial compensable rating for right foot hammer toes, while remanding the claim for service connection for hepatitis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being needed, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis and its relationship to service connection.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hepatitis has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.
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