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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1146428.
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
The Veteran's IBS has been granted a 30 percent initial disability rating. Service connection was denied for other claimed conditions.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.