The Board found that the Veteran's brain damage is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding of a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected back disability and his claimed brain injury due to hypothermia/frostbite.
- Claimed conditions
- Brain damage, Hypothermia/frostbite
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2013
- Citation
- 1318302
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 1318302.
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 found that the appellant's spinal injury, brain damage, and deteriorating spinal cord did not result from service or were not aggravated by service. The most probative evidence concluded that these conditions resulted from a motor vehicle accident outside of service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 29, 2003, for the award of nonservice-connected disability pension as he did not file a claim for such benefits prior to that date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, effective from the date of the decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board finds that service connection is warranted for residuals of brain damage, including diminished mental capacities, on a direct basis. The veteran's cognitive problems are attributed to his pineal tumor and its treatment.
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.