The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's death to a service-connected disability or exposure to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, Gulf War Syndrome, etc.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's death was caused by his own alcohol and drug abuse, which is not considered a service-connected cause of death. The appellant did not provide sufficient evidence linking any other conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute intoxication by alcohol and opiates, Steatosis and fibrosis of the liver, Cardiac hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2004
- Citation
- 0418137
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0418137.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for a breathing condition and lung infection were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, which is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether cardiac hypertrophy was a contributory cause of the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected and remanded both the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claims.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's heart disability, including sinus bradycardia and cardiac hypertrophy, is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury during service. The Board also found that the acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome are not service-connected.
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.