The Board found that the causes of the Veteran's death were not related to service-connected disabilities, including his combat wounds sustained in August 1944. The Board determined that these injuries did not play a material causal role in the Veteran's death or substantially worsened any other condition leading to his death.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion indicated that the shrapnel injury to the chest wall in August 1944 had not played a role in the Veteran's death or substantially worsened any other condition leading to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- multi-system organ failure, probable ischemic bowel, hypertensive heart with congestive heart failure, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypothyroidism, dementia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1038766
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1038766.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune during service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed due to his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism is denied, and the Board finds that service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypothyroidism and therefore denied their claim for service connection.
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