The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia condition contributed to his death from hepatocellular carcinoma caused by HCV, which was acquired through illicit drug use. The Board finds in favor of the appellant and grants service connection for cause of death.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence shows a relationship between the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and his acquisition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through illicit drug use, leading to hepatocellular carcinoma which caused his death.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2005
- Citation
- 0505760
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 0505760.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is secondary to hepatitis C, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeal for accrued benefits and has remanded the issue of service connection for cause of death, as there was a duty to assist error related to obtaining a medical nexus opinion regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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