The Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia is found to have caused or aggravated his smoking addiction, which in turn reduced his chance of survival from cholangiocarcinoma. The Board finds the opinions provided by VHA medical experts to be probative and persuasive.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence links the Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia to his smoking addiction and subsequent reduction in overall survival due to cholangiocarcinoma, which is found to have contributed substantially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- paranoid schizophrenia, cholangiocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1737230
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1737230.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma is related to his military service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam. After considering all evidence and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran, the Board granted service connection for cholangiocarcinoma.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his representative, withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is due to cholangiocarcinoma, which was diagnosed in 1988 and presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure during service. The appellant filed a DIC application on November 27, 1989, and the claim was granted with an effective date of November 27, 1989.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia is denied. The Board has also remanded the case to obtain a VA examination regarding his current disability rating for paranoid schizophrenia.
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