The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and finds that his service-connected disabilities materially contributed to his death from respiratory failure due to COPD. The appeal is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including paralysis of the right sciatic nerve and gunshot wound perforating the right buttock involving muscle groups XVI and XVII, aggravated his pre-existing COPD, contributing substantially or materially to cause his death from respiratory failure.
- Claimed conditions
- paralysis of the right sciatic nerve, gunshot wound perforating the right buttock involving muscle group XVI and XVII, chronic dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1522704
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 1522704.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic dermatitis, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial rating for a skin disability, including chronic dermatitis, tinea pedis, xerosis and hyperkeratosis, to obtain additional medical evidence regarding systemic therapy and the degree of involvement of nonservice-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a skin disability (other than pseudofolliculitis barbae), diagnosed as chronic urticaria and chronic dermatitis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current skin conditions and his active duty service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for various disabilities and granted service connection for residuals of frostbite in the hands and sinusitis, while remanding several issues for further consideration.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.