The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for post-traumatic arthritis as secondary to gunshot wound residuals, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's service or service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner stated that cerebrovascular disease is not induced by gunshot wounds, and there was no evidence showing a causal connection between the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals and his fatal stroke.
- Claimed conditions
- Cerebrovascular disease, Post-traumatic arthritis of the low back, Post-traumatic arthritis of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2008
- Citation
- 0814649
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's CAD and diabetes contributed to his cause of death, cerebrovascular disease. The VA is instructed to obtain all outstanding medical records and provide a medical opinion on this issue.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, entitlement to DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and entitlement to DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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