The Board found that the veteran's death was due to a heroin overdose and not related to service or any disability caused by service.
The deciding factor: The cause of death (heroin overdose) is unrelated to service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- March 14, 2008
- Citation
- 0808680
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 0808680.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, which included atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service at Fort McClellan. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance since January 22, 2018. The Board has granted an effective date of January 22, 2018 for SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's discharge from the PCAFC program was remanded due to incomplete file and inadequate medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the initial decision denying service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is incorrect and remands the case to allow for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death.
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