The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability. The VA physician found that the Veteran's right upper extremity and cervical spine disabilities were not significant factors in his fall, which led to his death.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that the nonfunctional right upper extremity and cervical spine disability were not significant factors in the Veteran's fall and subsequent death.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of use of right upper extremity (gunshot wound with muscle loss, atrophy and ankylosis of elbow), degenerative disc disease of cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2011
- Citation
- 1140697
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 1140697.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for contact dermatitis and TDIU was granted. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service head injury.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and ankylosing spondylitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for cervical spine disability (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis), left upper extremity radiculopathy (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis), and right upper extremity radiculopathy (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis) have been reopened.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for multiple myeloma has been remanded.
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