The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was not incurred in or etiologically related to his period of active service.
The deciding factor: Service records did not show any findings of CJD during the Veteran's period of active service. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran's CJD was related to service, citing various types and risk factors for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1623420
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 1623420.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was related to his exposure to contaminated meat while serving in England.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is found to be the primary cause of her insomnia, and she is already in receipt of a 30% rating for anemia. The claims for fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus type II, radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and mouth trauma are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and uncorroborated in-service stressors. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records, including from SSA and private providers, and to schedule a PTSD examination if corroborated stressors are found.
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