The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that the veteran's liver disease and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor may cirrhosis be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions did not relate the veteran's liver disease and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm to service, and there was no evidence showing that these conditions were related to military service or any other presumptive basis.
- Claimed conditions
- ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, liver disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2007
- Citation
- 0740714
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 0740714.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and accrued benefits due to lack of timely filing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for liver disease, including cirrhosis, MASH, and metabolic syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being returned to the AOJ for a new VA examination by a specialist in liver diseases.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects. The Veteran's death during the appeal process means that no decision can be made on these claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and determined that July 30, 2012 is the earliest effective date allowed. The decision does not address any other issues or provide a rating assigned.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.