The Board found that the veteran's suicide was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence linking the veteran's suicide to any service-connected condition or exposure to hazardous environments.
- Claimed conditions
- Suicide
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 30, 2008
- Citation
- 0844893
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 0844893.
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 death was ruled a suicide by drowning, and the VA has determined that his service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board found no evidence linking any in-service psychiatric condition to his later depression and suicide.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a reported stressor and for further examination if the stressor is verified.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's suicide was caused by his use of Methadone prescribed by VA, and if so, whether it was due to negligence or lack of proper skill on the part of VA.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence submitted since the final November 1986 rating decision. The Veteran committed suicide while on active duty, but there is no indication that he was of sound mind at the time. The Board finds that his death does not meet the criteria for willful misconduct or drug use resulting in service connection.
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.