The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of frostbite to his feet did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death, which was due to hepatitis C and liver cancer.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion found chronic hepatitis C virus disease with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were the likely proximate causes of the veteran's death. The examiner noted that there was nothing in the claims file to indicate that the veteran's frostbite contributed substantially or materially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of frostbite to the right foot, residuals of frostbite to the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2005
- Citation
- 0530994
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 0530994.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for neck pain, lower back pain, and the effective dates of service connection for frostbite residuals. Additional development is needed to obtain missing VA treatment records from the Veteran's Army National Guard service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his eye condition due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his onychomycosis and ingrown toenails, as well as a need for an updated VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's frostbite residuals of the right and left legs and feet are related to his in-service exposure to cold weather, resulting in frostbite. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite to the right hand and foot are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including another VA examination.
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