The Board found that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. The medical evidence does not support a direct causal relationship between the veteran's schizophrenia and his cause of death.

The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that there was nothing in the material submitted that supported the contention that the veteran's schizophrenia contributed to or caused the veteran's death, as evidenced by the significant infection at any age following a valve replacement which inherently brought increased risks for complications and death.

Claimed conditions

Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, mosaic bioprosthetic valve aortic valve replacement endocarditis secondary to group D Enterococcus, respiratory failure, clostridium difficile colitis, renal failure, hemoccult positive stool, thrombocytopenia, heparin induced thrombocytopenia intermediate, toxic metabolic encephalopathy, history of coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, history of periodontal disease, stage 2 decubitus ulcer, chronic back pain, anasarca, recent non-Q wave myocardial infarction, Escherichia coli urinary tract infection, seizure disorder, decreased mobility, anemia of chronic disease, hypertension, degenerative joint disease, history of peripheral vascular disease, history of sternal wound dehiscence, status post wound closure flap, history of schizophrenia

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating

Not verified here — check the original decision

Decision date

October 12, 2005

Citation

0527545

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 0527545.