The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, considering that his service-connected orthopedic disabilities and major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death.

The deciding factor: The evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death, and reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the appellant.

Claimed conditions

major depressive disorder with anxious distress, right knee degenerative joint disease and arthroscopic surgery, left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, with painful extension, left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, with limitation of flexion, left hip strain with osteoarthritis, with thigh impairment, left hip strain with osteoarthritis, with limitation of flexion, left hip strain with osteoarthritis, with limitation of extension, hemorrhoids, scar

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 19, 2025

Citation

A25100669

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