The Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, including his PTSD. The Board denied the claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his terminal conditions (respiratory insufficiency and advanced dementia).
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory Insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1146428
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 1146428.
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 IBS has been granted a 30 percent initial disability rating. Service connection was denied for other claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy as the Veteran does not have a current disability. The claims for IBS, abdominal pain syndrome, respiratory insufficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome, weakness/lack of coordination of legs, an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep disturbances, left hip, and right hip disabilities are remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for respiratory insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, fatigue, and a left elbow condition, while denying service connection for other specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and an initial compensable disability rating for epidydimal cyst. The Board also denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for respiratory insufficiency and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include GAD, due to inadequate VA examinations.
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