The Veteran died of respiratory failure due to or as a consequence of cardiac arrest with acute congestive heart failure. The service-connected residuals of cold weather trauma did not cause his death, nor did it render him materially less capable of resisting the effects of other disease or injury primarily causing death.
The deciding factor: The physician could not find any evidence that showed the residuals of cold injuries specifically caused or contributed to the Veteran's death as there was no specific relationship between the condition and the outcome.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of cold weather trauma of the left lower extremity, residuals of cold weather trauma of the right lower extremity, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right knee, amputation of the right great toe, residuals of cold weather trauma to the right hand, residuals of cold weather trauma of the left hand, non-healing ulcer, amputation of the right second toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1210312
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 1210312.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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