The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates due to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, thus the Board lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the case.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine injury, arachnoiditis with residuals of the right upper extremity, arachnoiditis with residuals of the left upper extremity, arachnoiditis with residuals of the right lower extremity, arachnoiditis with residuals of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20074705
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- 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 service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.