The Veteran's death was not service-connected as the cause of death, and his service-connected disability did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.
The deciding factor: Service connection for the cause of death could not be established due to lack of a medical relationship between the service-connected condition and the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- triple arthrodesis of the left foot, end stage heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2018
- Citation
- 1801475
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 1801475.
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 has remanded the case due to a failure to fully develop the claim regarding possible exposure to herbicide agents and chemicals during service. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed, as well as potential secondary service connection for depression causing heart disease.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for end stage heart failure status post left ventricular assist device cannot be reopened as there is no new and material evidence presented.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.