The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as a result of exposure to herbicides due to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran’s death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, bilateral hand disability (including dupuytren’s contracture), blindness of the left eye, tinea pedis, hiatal hernia with gastric nodule and erosive duodenopathy, bilateral leg pain (including peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee/hip pain, and varicose veins), bilateral arm pain, bilateral foot pain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19117332
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 19117332.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis and dismissed the claims for tinnitus, multiple sclerosis, neck condition, and low back condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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.