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
- Not verified here — check the original 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 indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0623432.
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 remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hand numbness, a bilateral foot condition, and gastrointestinal problems due to inadequate VA medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and remanded the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal problems, a multiple joint arthritis disability, otitis externa, and an initial compensable rating for a headache disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, including special monthly pension based upon the need for aid and attendance (SMP-AA), due to incomplete development of his medical records and income information.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
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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