The veteran died from congestive heart failure and cellulitis of the legs. The Board found that his service-connected psychiatric disability (anxiety reaction with depressive features) and low back disability (post-operative herniated nucleus pulposus) did not cause or contribute to his death.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence showing a causal connection between the veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death from congestive heart failure and cellulitis of the legs.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive heart failure, Cellulitis of the legs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2006
- Citation
- 0601277
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, asthma/lung disease, vision disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, leukocytosis, kidney disease/kidney stones, enlarged prostate, sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a cardiovascular disability, secondary to hypertension, but denied a compensable rating and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for congestive heart failure was dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.
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