The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals and falls. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was congestive heart failure (CHF) due to coronary artery disease (CAD).
The deciding factor: The VA doctor concluded that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected frostbite injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Dementia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1606290
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 1606290.
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
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The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and various peripheral neuropathies have been granted increased ratings. Effective August 16, 2023, the Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU rating and DEA benefits.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive impairment or dementia was rated at 50 percent from July 11, 2005 to March 4, 2021. From March 4, 2021, the Veteran's condition was rated at 100 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates set at October 18, 2023. The lumbosacral strain has also received a higher initial rating.
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