The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his fatal disease processes to service or his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence linking the Veteran’s hypertensive heart disease to service or his service-connected conditions and medications prescribed for them.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), History of closed head injury with cognitive impairment, Headaches, Status-post right tripod fracture, zygoma (with limitation of inter-incisal range of motion), Status-post right tripod fracture/zygoma with injury, right infraorbital nerve and branch of trigeminal nerve, History of residual scar, right zygomatic arch
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19189168
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 19189168.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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