The veteran's cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer, with other significant conditions including atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis (legs), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and cerebral vascular accidents. The Board found that the service-connected disability did not cause or hasten his death, and there is no evidence linking the veteran's fatal disease processes to his military service.
The deciding factor: The veteran died from metastatic prostate cancer with other significant conditions contributing to death but not resulting in the underlying cause. Service connection for cause of death on a direct basis was denied as there was no medical opinion or other medical evidence suggesting any relationship between the veteran's fatal disease processes and his periods of military service.
- Claimed conditions
- prostate cancer, atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis (legs), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, cerebral vascular accidents (embolic)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2006
- Citation
- 0603007
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 prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal regarding the Veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atrial fibrillation is remanded due to unclear evidence on whether continuous medication is required for its control.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 25, 2014, for service connection for prostate cancer.
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