The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Veteran died from a subdural hematoma due to a stroke caused by a fall in the bathtub.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s service-connected back and left hip conditions were not the proximate cause of his death, nor did they materially contribute to the fall which ultimately resulted in the Veteran's death. However, another medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially and materially to the fall.
- Claimed conditions
- subdural hematoma, residuals, compression fracture, residuals, total replacement of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20058849
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 20058849.
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 has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and a seizure disorder. The AOJ is required to readjudicate these issues in the first instance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a subdural hematoma, secondary to service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The decision is based on evidence that the Veteran's fall causing his subdural hematoma was due to his service-connected radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for subdural hematoma to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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