The Board finds that the service-connected shrapnel wound residuals contributed substantially to the cause of death, and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The independent medical expert concluded that the veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound residuals led to a level of physical inactivity that materially contributed to the development of his coronary artery disease, despite other risk factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired absence of the right foot, Residuals of a shell fragment wound, left leg with involvement of Muscle Group XIV, Residuals of a fracture of the left femur with malunion, residuals of a shell fragment wound, Osteomyelitis of the left femur, Residuals of shell fragment wounds of both buttocks, Residuals of a contusion of the left peroneal nerve, Scars of the back and right thigh, residuals of a shell fragment wound
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2004
- Citation
- 0418067
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,012 · Granted: 24% (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 0418067.
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 Veteran's service-connected osteomyelitis of the left femur has been rated at 10 percent since May 2012. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment compatible with his training and experience.
- Dismissed
The veteran's claim for service connection for osteomyelitis of the left femur was denied in August 1959. The Board dismissed the appeal because the notice of disagreement was not timely filed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
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