The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected loss of use of both feet, due to cold injury, did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. However, after considering all evidence and opinions provided, including those from VA medical experts and a specialist in neurology and psychiatry, it is at least as likely as not that the frostbite injury and the Veteran's eventual loss of use of both feet contributed to his death.
The deciding factor: The expert medical opinions indicate that the Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. However, they also suggest that these conditions may have contributed to a decreased physical activity which could have impacted his cardiovascular health and ultimately led to his death from coronary arteriosclerosis.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary arteriosclerosis, stroke, loss of use of both feet (due to cold injury)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 13, 2014
- Citation
- 1410624
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 1410624.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and the medical opinions were against a nexus to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's stroke and its residuals are related to his service in Southwest Asia, given the PACT Act provisions.
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