The Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure and COPD, was not caused or contributed substantially to his death by any service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: COPD is more likely due to tobacco dependency rather than in-service treatment for pneumonia. The service-connected prostate cancer did not contribute to the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate, Respiratory Failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2011
- Citation
- 1144551
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 1144551.
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 an earlier effective date of January 23, 2017 for the grant of service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) associated with Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate and corresponding Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). The decision is based on the fact that the Veteran's ED was shown to be due to treatment for prostate cancer which began in or around January 2017.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, associated with his adenocarcinoma of the prostate post-radical prostatectomy, is now rated at 20 percent effective February 6, 2017.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. The Veteran's hypertension does not have a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.,The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate is in remission and warrants at least a 10 percent rating based on residual voiding dysfunction.
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