The Veteran's cause of death, renal failure, anorexia, and metastatic squamous cell cancer is found to be related to his service-connected knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: The nonhealing abdominal wounds resulting from the October 2001 surgery were caused by the weight gain due to the service-connected knee disabilities, which led to the development of metastatic squamous cell cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- Renal Failure, Anorexia, Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23022918
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 23022918.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, specifically his medication for treatment of PTSD, is found to have contributed materially to his death. The Board concludes the evidence is in approximate balance with respect to whether the PTSD medication caused his death.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for renal failure, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates and ratings for PTSD, renal failure, and SMC based on housebound criteria. The issues of initial higher rating for liver transplant residuals and SMC based on aid and attendance are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death, as well as the potential impact of in-service herbicide exposure.
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