The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not contribute to his death, and even if his pulmonary condition did contribute, it was not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected conditions to his cause of death, nor any evidence suggesting they contributed substantially or materially to his death. The Board found that the appellant's statements were not credible given the lack of supporting medical evidence and conflicting treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Residuals of a gunshot wound to the left hand, Residuals of a cold injury to both the right and left feet, Scar on the frontal scalp due to a gunshot wound, Recurrent headaches, secondary to a gunshot wound to the head
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2010
- Citation
- 1015538
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 1015538.
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.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was denied, and he was granted a TDIU. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a 100% disability rating.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder with Insomnia Disorder, was granted. The effective date is set at October 25, 2022.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective March 25, 2024. The Board found that the increase in severity of his disability warranted this rating.
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