The Board has denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for cause of death, finding that new and material evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.
The deciding factor: The new evidence received since the June 2003 rating decision does not establish a relationship between the veteran's service-connected disability (shrapnel wounds) or any other condition, and his death causing heart condition or diabetes mellitus. The lay statements do not provide sufficient medical evidence to support the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiovascular-renal disease, endocarditis, myocarditis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2007
- Citation
- 0724884
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 0724884.
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: Dismissed
The appeal of the October 2022 rating decision finding no new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim for service connection for myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and pericarditis was dismissed as procedurally defective.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a PTSD rating, and service connection for myocarditis, poor immune health, osteoporosis, nervous system conditions, and hypertension, all of which were claimed as due to Gulf War illness.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and myocarditis due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The claim for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was remanded for further examination.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for shortness of breath, endocarditis, lipoma, and skin cancer as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claim for peripheral arterial disease was denied due to a lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis. Service connection for a back condition was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to service.
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