The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, special home adaptation grant, individual unemployability, and aid and attendance/housebound benefits have been dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal. The service connection claims are also dismissed due to the death of both the Veteran and his surviving spouse.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeals were dismissed because both he and his surviving spouse had passed away, rendering the Board without jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, cold injury residuals of left foot (previously evaluated as bilateral trench foot), cold injury residuals of right foot (previously evaluated as bilateral trench foot), hearing loss, nervous condition (claimed as mental health conditions), acid reflux (also claimed as GERD and digestion condition), diabetes mellitus, heart condition, high blood pressure, left upper extremity condition, sleep apnea (also claimed as sleep conditions), vision condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21067509
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 21067509.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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 claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, thus denying both claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
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