The Board finds that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and thus service connection for the cause of death is denied.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence does not establish a link between the veteran's service or service-connected conditions and his death from aspiration pneumonia, nosocomial pneumonia, respiratory failure, dementia (Alzheimer's type), iron deficient anemia, and colon polyps.
- Claimed conditions
- aspiration pneumonia, nosocomial pneumonia, respiratory failure, dementia (Alzheimer's type), iron deficient anemia, colon polyps
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2007
- Citation
- 0734026
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 0734026.
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: Denied
The Veteran's causes of death were not found to be service-connected, as there was no credible evidence linking the conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic ear infections, chronic allergic rhinitis, colon polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, and chronic headaches (to include as due to sinusitis) based on the lack of current diagnoses.,The Veteran's assertions were not considered competent evidence regarding his claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for bruising due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claims for breast tumors, gall bladder condition, and colon polyps are remanded as the evidence does not include an opinion on their relationship to active duty service or any toxic exposures.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, are presumed to be related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.
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