The Board finds that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death. The medical evidence does not support a conclusion that the service-connected conditions caused excessive acetaminophen use, which led to fulminant hepatitis and sepsis.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded there was insufficient evidence to suggest an acute active infection from the Veteran's legs leading to septicemia and subsequent hypotension and shock. The medical data did not support a diagnosis of acetaminophen overdose, as no acetaminophen level was performed at the time of presentation.
- Claimed conditions
- second and third degree burns of the left leg, burn contracture left upper extremity, second and third degree burns of the right leg, second and third degree burns of the back, second and third degree burns of the right arm, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depression associated with second and third degree burns of the left leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2013
- Citation
- 1309769
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 1309769.
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: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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