The Board finds that the cause of death, aspiration pneumonia due to stroke related dysphagia, was not caused by any service-connected disability. The Veteran had no established service connection for any condition prior to his death.
The deciding factor: There is no competent and probative evidence showing a nexus between any of the conditions listed as causing or contributing to cause the Veteran's death and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- aspiration pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2009
- Citation
- 0939075
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 0939075.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary heart disease is being remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records, which were not fully obtained before the April 2020 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various service connection claims and rating determinations due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for cardiomyopathy and an initial compensable rating for a scar from a pacemaker implant are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his congestive heart failure.
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