The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, to the immediate cause of death (cardiopulmonary arrest) or to multisystem organ failure. The primary cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to multisystem organ failure, with complications from open heart surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right hand, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, Degenerative arthritis of the left hand, Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, with limitation of motion, Degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, with limitation of motion, Deafness, Malaria, Idiopathic urticaria, Gastritis, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2009
- Citation
- 0909385
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0909385.
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.
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The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted higher levels of SMC and aid and attendance special monthly compensation effective May 3, 2024, due to his service-connected conditions that require regular aid and assistance.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain examination reports and determine if the service-connected conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant.
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