The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy contributed substantially or materially to his death from sepsis due to bowel necrosis and severe abdominal adhesions. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by VA experts.
The deciding factor: The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions made him more susceptible to developing an infection, which led to sepsis and his death.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, arteriosclerotic heart disease, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182478
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 19182478.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and chronic pain syndrome due to untimely notices of disagreement.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to the veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.
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