The Veteran's cause of death was due to an oropharyngeal neoplasm, but his service-connected duodenal ulcer and related conditions contributed substantially and materially in causing his death. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: Service-connected PTSD and chronic gastric problems (duodenal ulcer) contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran's cause of death due to an oropharyngeal neoplasm.
- Claimed conditions
- Oropharyngeal neoplasm, Cerebrovascular disease, Spinal stenosis, Osteoporosis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 12, 2012
- Citation
- 1235405
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 1235405.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for his lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to incomplete service records and a lack of relevant VA treatment records. The Board will seek additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, herniated disc, IVDS and spinal stenosis is rated at 40 percent since August 19, 2020. The appeal period did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that symptoms began during service and have persisted since.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death is not considered service-connected prior to October 2, 2023.
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