The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, as all submitted evidence was either cumulative or redundant.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence was received that could establish a causal link between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- cause of death (COPD, low back pain), service-connected disabilities
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1542383
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 1542383.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and other disabilities require the need for aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound status is denied, but his claim for aid and attendance of another person is granted. The decision finds that the Veteran requires regular assistance due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for additional VR&E benefits to pursue a master's degree in mental health was denied as her existing education, including her master's degree in Christian counseling, was deemed sufficient for employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's persistent somatic symptom disorder is rated at 70 percent from October 26, 2020 to the present. The TDIU claim for July 31, 2021 and earlier is granted with an effective date of July 31, 2021.
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.