The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: Due to the death of the appellant, the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar and thoracic spine degenerative disc and joint disease, stenosis, multiple slipped discs, myelopathy, muscle spasms, pain, cervical spine stenosis, radiculitis, myofascial pain, slipped discs, neck pain, sacral stenosis, degenerative disc and joint disease, sacroiliac pain, spondylosis/idiopathic severe spinal stenosis, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, radiculopathy, hypesthesia, weakness, paresthesias, autonomic neuropathy, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, degenerative joint disease, frozen shoulder, obesity, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome with bruxism, memory loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo and loss of balance, pain disorder, depressive disorder, suicide attempt, abnormal antalgic gait and posture, blurred vision and light sensitivity, decreased sense of taste
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20011337
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 20011337.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there was no unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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