The VA determined that neither the veteran's enterocutaneous fistula nor any other service-connected condition caused or contributed to his death from bronchiopneumonia, emphysema, and pulmonary thromboembolism. The pre-existing conditions were not related to service.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that the veteran's respiratory/pulmonary-related causes of death were substantiated by autopsy and that the other service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Enterocutaneous fistula, Lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2006
- Citation
- 0608168
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,642 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0608168.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DJD, left knee disability based on limitation of extension, and right knee disability based on limitation of extension.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for anxiety and depressive disorder, as well as lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019, was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder or a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder are rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019 is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the lumbar spine DJD from June 26, 2019 onwards and for TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations.
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