The Veteran's cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure due to melanoma. The Board determined that his ischemic heart disease did not substantially or materially contribute to the cause of death, nor did it combine to cause death.
The deciding factor: The examiner found no evidence that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease caused his death at the time of diagnosis and concluded that it was unlikely to have contributed to his death based on the severity of the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Melanoma, Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21071132
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21071132.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's melanoma is granted service connection. Service connection for skin cancer other than melanoma is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the DIC benefits claim due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from Jefferson City Health and Rehabilitation Center, which could provide information about the Veteran's diagnosis of melanoma.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of a skin condition, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disability, kidney tumor, melanoma, back disability, and bilateral hearing loss to correct duty-to-assist errors.
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