The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis, which he had been treated for since 1946 and considered inactive at the time of his death, did not contribute to his cause of death.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis was inactive at the time of his death and did not contribute to his causes of death (acute respiratory failure, bronchogenic carcinoma, community-acquired pneumonia, chronic bedridden state).
- Claimed conditions
- bronchogenic carcinoma, community-acquired pneumonia, chronic bedridden state
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18140660
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 18140660.
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 insufficient information about the Veteran's service in Vietnam. They need to obtain his personnel records and determine if he served on any ships within the 12 nautical mile territorial waters of Vietnam or otherwise served in the Republic of Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bronchogenic carcinoma and surgical scars are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a DRO hearing.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death and denied the claim for nonservice-connected death pension due to lack of qualifying service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
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