The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking PTSD with major depression and alcohol abuse to the Veteran's cause of death. The primary cause of death was stage four lung cancer resulting in cardiac tamponade.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that PTSD did not contribute to the Veteran’s cause of death, which was due to stage four lung cancer resulting in cardiac tamponade.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depression and alcohol abuse, chronic abdominal wall strain, residual of ventral and inguinal hernia repairs, scar, right groin, scar, upper abdomen, stage four lung cancer, cardiac tamponade
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19164712
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,454 · Granted: 23% (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 19164712.
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 cardiac tamponade, pericarditis, and aggravation of atrial fibrillation were caused by the carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical care with respect to the treatment he received at a VAMC in November 2017. As such, the appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cardiac complications are being remanded for a new VA medical opinion to determine if they were proximately caused by the treatment provided by VA in November 2017, including an x-ray taken by a VA technician.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and assistance, thus granting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by morphine toxicity, which is not considered a foreseeable event. The Board finds that VA compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is warranted.
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