The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that neither rheumatoid arthritis nor any other service-connected condition caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The loss of use of both feet was found to be a contributing factor but not the primary cause.
The deciding factor: Service connection could not be established as there was no evidence showing that rheumatoid arthritis had its onset in service, and it did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran’s death.
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of Use of Both Feet (due to fractured left femur), Rheumatoid Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19136587
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19136587.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from March 24, 2017.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, and a compensable disability evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral upper extremities pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and squamous cell carcinoma of the anus as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C. However, psoriatic arthritis was denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility under the PCAFC program due to his ability to perform activities of daily living and lack of need for personal care services.
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