The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal problems did not cause his death, and that his death was due to chronic alcoholism. As direct service connection for a disability resulting from abuse of alcohol is precluded after October 31, 2000, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA physician's opinion based on review of medical records indicated that the veteran's gastrointestinal problems were not a factor in his death. The amended death certificate listed complications of chronic ethanolism as the cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic ethanolism, Gastrointestinal problems
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0623432
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,377 · Granted: 17% (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 0623432.
What this means for you
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The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric condition. The case is being remanded to address service connection for gastrointestinal problems and Gulf War Unexplained Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness, including diverticulosis.
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