The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board finds that his service-connected varicose veins did not contribute to his death.
The deciding factor: The August 2008 VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's stroke was more likely secondary to hyperlipidemia and plaque formation from multiple chronic diseases rather than due to his service-connected varicose veins of the left leg.
- Claimed conditions
- Varicose veins of the left leg, Right shoulder dislocation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0948311
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0948311.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right elbow dislocation, right shoulder dislocation, and bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy as untimely. The appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied due to clear and unmistakable evidence that it preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right shoulder condition and his in-service injury. The Veteran contends that he incurred a right shoulder dislocation during service, which resulted in ongoing pain and instability.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period beginning May 1, 2020, as he has a combined disability rating of 100% due to service-connected disabilities and was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's varicose veins of the left leg are currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the symptoms described. The claim for an extraschedular rating was also denied as the criteria reasonably describe the Veteran's disability level.
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