The Veteran died from a service-connected disability (spindle cell sarcoma) and the maximum burial benefit of $1,500 is denied as it exceeds the legal limit for deaths occurring before September 11, 2001.
The deciding factor: The law limits the amount of burial benefits payable for a Veteran who died as the result of a service-connected disability prior to September 11, 2001, to $1,500.
- Claimed conditions
- spindle cell sarcoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2014
- Citation
- 1407778
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 1407778.
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: Granted
The Board has granted the claim for service connection for spindle cell sarcoma with a rating of 100% from May 2, 2011 to May 31, 2011. The effective date is set at May 2, 2011.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's spindle cell sarcoma is related to his herbicide exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
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