The Veteran's death was caused by an accidental drug overdose, which is considered the result of his own willful misconduct. The service-connected disabilities and prescribed medications did not contribute to his cause of death.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's use of illicit drugs (cocaine, cannabis) significantly increased his risk of death but was the catalyst for his accidental overdose which led to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Congested atelectatic lungs, Pulmonary emphysema, Atherosclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Kyphosis, Scars on the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1640565
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 1640565.
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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- Granted
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