The Veteran's death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, not related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to active duty or service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: Multiple blunt force injuries were not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service and did not manifest within one year of discharge from service.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder/alcohol use disorder with traumatic brain injury, irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease, carpal tunnel syndrome right upper extremity, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation with degenerative arthritis, right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, voiding dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome left upper extremity, right knee instability, left knee arthritis/status post nondisplaced fracture to tip of fibular head knee, right knee arthritis/status post medical meniscus repair, lateral epicondylitis right elbow, lateral epicondylitis left elbow, status post-surgery right thumb fracture, degenerative arthritis thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis cervical spine, left knee instability, residuals right ankle fracture status post-surgical repair and plate insertion, bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs, tinnitus, hypertension, residuals jaw fracture status postsurgical repair, dry eye syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, umbilical (ventral) hernia, erectile dysfunction, anemia iron deficiency, right knee/ankle scars, right thumb scar, left shoulder scar, post concussive headaches, restless leg syndrome bilateral
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2024
- Citation
- A24036996
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 A24036996.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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