The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities caused or contributed to his increased frequency of falls, which led to a hip replacement and subsequent infections. The Board finds that the service-connected conditions are the principal cause of death.
The deciding factor: Service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities likely caused or aggravated the Veteran's frequent falls, leading to multiple surgeries and ultimately septicemia as the immediate cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- low back syndrome with arthritis and radiculitis, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees, degenerative joint disease of both shoulders, degenerative joint disease of both hands, degenerative joint disease of the right hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1741231
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 1741231.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal requests for extensions to file an appeal on various rating decisions were denied, and the attempted appeals are dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board grants service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), degenerative joint disease of the left hip, and degenerative joint disease of the right hip.,The Board grants service connection for bilateral tinea pedis.,The Board denies service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection as the Veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.
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