The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability. The appellant's contentions regarding dysthymia and other service-connected conditions were deemed insufficient to establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the ICH which resulted in the Veteran's death was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected dysthymia, peripheral neuropathy, or depressed diffusing capacity of the lungs. The remaining service-connected disabilities were also deemed unrelated to the causation or process of an ICH.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymia, depressed diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon dioxide, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, residuals of carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on the right, including a lunotriquetrial tear, repair right inguinal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2014
- Citation
- 1435138
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 1435138.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for dysthymia due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a new examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination, and it is recommended that the Veteran undergoes another examination to assess his current psychiatric disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, as of March 16, 2005. The decision is based on the evidence showing a formal diagnosis during active duty and consistent lay testimony.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dysthymia, and anxious distress based on the Veteran's in-service combat-related stressors.
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