The Board found no evidence linking any service-connected condition to the Veteran's death or contributing substantially to his death. The cause of death was listed as respiratory failure due to end stage emphysema, with other conditions contributing such as congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence showing that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death or hastened its onset.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory failure, End stage emphysema, Congestive heart failure, Cerebrovascular accident, Chronic kidney disease, Peripheral vascular disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1706899
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 1706899.
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 chronic kidney disease is rated at 60 percent throughout the appeal period. The claim for TDIU was denied due to lack of information regarding employment history.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no competent evidence linking any principal or contributory cause of his death to his service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the (r)(1) rate due to his service-connected major depressive disorder and congestive heart failure, which require regular aid and attendance.
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