The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right leg disability contributed to his death, but not due to VA medical treatment. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is dismissed as moot given the award of service connection for cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's fall on May 24, 1997 was not caused by VA medical treatment and that the premature discontinuation of digoxin in July 1997 did not result from VA fault or an unforeseeable event.
- Claimed conditions
- Alzheimer's dementia, third, second and first degree burns of the right leg with interference of circulation and flexion, muscle damage, and thin and sensitive skin, wound, left buttock injury to muscle group (MG) XVII, wound, right foot, with deformity in injury to MG X
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2005
- Citation
- 0514221
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 0514221.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Alzheimer's dementia as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to the Veteran's dementia.
- Granted
The Veteran's Alzheimer's dementia is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, including Agent Orange.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss contributed to his death due to Alzheimer's dementia and failure to thrive, finding that there was no causal connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Alzheimer's dementia, finding it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
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