The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected frostbite, but rather a combination of other conditions including coronary artery disease and diabetes. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected frostbite was the principal or contributory cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- frostbite of the left foot, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left hand, frostbite of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1522519
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1522519.
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 service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for frostbite of the left toes, right toes, left hand, and right hand. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of both feet due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding a September 2025 private medical record linking peripheral neuropathy to in-service frostbite.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus, frostbite of the hands and feet, as well as sleep problems secondary to tinnitus are being remanded.,The Veteran is seeking an increase in his rating for tinnitus. The current highest schedular rating has been granted.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for frostbite of the left foot was dismissed due to it being a duplicate claim.
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