The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal resulted in the loss of jurisdiction over the merits of the case.
- Claimed conditions
- neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with gastritis, right tonsil malignant mass, residual neck scar associated with right tonsil malignant mass, impotence, actinic keratosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21002651
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 21002651.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- 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 tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding the diagnosis of gastritis and its relation to service. The Veteran needs to provide records, and a VA examiner will review his medical history and determine if gastritis is related to his military service or any other conditions.
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