The appeal was dismissed due to the death of both the Veteran and the substitute claimant.
The deciding factor: The appeal must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction as both the Veteran and substitute claimant have died.
- Claimed conditions
- scleroderma, constipation, diarrhea, esophageal dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues, lung involvement, Raynaud phenomenon, right foot amputation, Sjogren Syndrome, swallowing difficulties
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2025
- Citation
- 25007010
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and granted an effective date of May 31, 2004, but no earlier, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (r)(2) level due to his service-connected disabilities requiring a higher level of care.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for scleroderma to schedule a VA examination and address the Veteran's reported symptoms during active duty and periods of ACDUTRA.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.