The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (acute cerebrovascular accident) is not linked to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck is not considered a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The May 2015 VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's acute cerebrovascular accident and vertebral artery thrombosis were not caused by or related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck is not considered a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute cerebrovascular accident, Vertebral artery thrombosis, Squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2016
- Citation
- 1614675
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 1614675.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not receive accrued benefits for arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claim for death benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including determining the distance to the nearest VA medical facility and whether a bed was available at this facility. A new opinion from a VA medical doctor is also required regarding when the Veteran became stable enough for transfer to a VA facility.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions. The claims for service connection and DIC were therefore denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and medical opinions regarding both theories of entitlement: service connection based on secondary effects of prescribed medication, and DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
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.