The Veteran died from head and neck cancer with COPD listed as a significant condition contributing to death. The Veteran was not receiving VA service-connected compensation or nonservice-connected pension benefits at the time of his death, nor did he have an original or reopened claim for either benefit pending. Therefore, burial benefits cannot be paid.
The deciding factor: The Veteran died from non-service connected causes and was not in receipt of VA service-connected compensation or nonservice-connected pension benefits at the time of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- head and neck cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2014
- Citation
- 1453438
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 1453438.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was due to carcinoma esophagus, with head and neck cancer noted as significant conditions. The Board found that the evidence does not support a connection between in-service herbicide agent exposure and the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, liver disorder (MASLD), and COPD are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate evidence. The claim for service connection is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, eczematoid dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports and the need for new VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for metastatic lung cancer and pleural effusion as secondary to service-connected metastatic lung cancer. Service connection is being remanded for COPD, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis due to the need for additional development.
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