The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right thigh and hip disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from splenic rupture. The VA medical expert opinion concluded that neither condition caused or contributed substantially to the fall resulting in the splenic rupture.
The deciding factor: VA medical expert opinion stated it would be speculation to say either the hip arthritis or the right thigh scar caused or contributed to the Veteran's death due to a fall from which he suffered a ruptured spleen.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of prostate cancer, Right thigh scar, Right hip osteoarthropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2013
- Citation
- 1301528
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 1301528.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating reduction and increased rating for prostate cancer, as well as the TDIU claim, due to the need for additional development of evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of prostate cancer, finding that the August 10, 2022 effective date is appropriate under the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for residuals of testicular, prostate, and lung cancer as the conditions were not incurred during a period of ACDUTRA and are not related to any in-service injury or disease.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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