The Veteran's claims for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for gall bladder removal and heart attack have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.
The deciding factor: The appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, making it impossible for the Board to adjudicate the merits of the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- gall bladder removal, heart attack
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19166885
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 19166885.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for depression, chronic ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), acne, arthritis, heart attack, thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, catarrhal fever (common cold), foot disability, ventral hernia, dental disability, and a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar spectrum disorder prior to January 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for all the conditions claimed by the Veteran, as there was no competent medical evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a heart attack due to unverified in-service exposure, requiring further development of the evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for coronary artery disease and a heart attack were dismissed due to lack of response within 60 days of the Board's request for clarification on the review option.
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.