The Board found that the veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and denied both the claim for service connection for cause of death and the claim for service connection for liver cancer. The appellant is also ineligible for VA pension benefits as she did not meet the legal requirements.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the veteran's liver cancer had its onset during service or was otherwise related to a disease or injury of service origin, nor did it contribute substantially or materially to cause his death.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatic carcinoma, cardio respiratory failure
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2008
- Citation
- 0839868
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 0839868.
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 died in 2012 due to sepsis, hepatic carcinoma, end stage liver disease, and hepatitis C. The Board found no service connection for any of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected cirrhosis of the liver, which is presumed for former POWs. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cardio respiratory failure due to esophageal cancer, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by a service-connected disability. The appellant did not provide evidence of in-service radiation exposure and there is no other evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD contributed to his death from hepatic carcinoma and cirrhosis of the liver. The appellant must also be provided with VCAA notice specific to DIC claims.
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