CAVC Case 92-606: Back

CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · March 15, 1994 · KRAMER

This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.

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Outcome
Denied / Vacated / Remanded
Decision Date
March 15, 1994
Judge
KRAMER
Service Era
Not specified

Conditions Claimed

BackHipRespiratoryGIEye

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Issues on Appeal

BackHipRespiratoryGIEye

Why It Was Decided This Way

The veteran was not service connected at the time of his death.

Although the veteran at the time of his death was not service connected for peptic disease, the Board, in its decision, did not provide an analysis of the probative value of the evidence that would tend to support a claim for service connection.

However, in order for the Court to determine whether the BVA's factual findings related to cause of death are clearly erroneous, the Board is required to provide an adequate written statement of the reasons or bases for its findings and conclusions on "all material issues of fact or law presented on the record.

, the Board must provide a satisfactory explanation as to why the evidence [is] not in equipoise" so as to require the application of the benefit-of-the- doubt rule which would resolve the issue in favor of the claimant.

Therefore, a remand is necessary so that the Board may provide an analysis of the credibility or probative value of the evidence in support of the appellant's DIC claim and a statement of the reasons or bases for its analysis, including any rejection, of this evidence by the Board.

In addition, the Board failed to consider regulations, such as 38 C.

] On the basis of this excerpt, the Board concluded that hepatoma, which was listed as the antecedent cause of death on the veteran's death certificate should be considered the primary cause of death because "by its very nature [it] is so overwhelming that eventual death can be anticipated irrespective of coexisting conditions.

On the next page of its decision, the Board concluded: The evidence shows .

Authorities Cited

Bucklinger v. BrownChadwick v. DerwinskiColvin v. DerwinskiFletcher v. DerwinskiGilbert v. DerwinskiHamilton v. BrownHatlestad v. DerwinskiQuarles v. DerwinskiSatchel v. DerwinskiSee Isenhart v. DerwinskiSee Shoemaker v. DerwinskiServello v. DerwinskiSmith v. DerwinskiThurber v. BrownYabut v. Brown

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 20.901(a)38 CFR 3.155(a) (1993)38 CFR 3.312(a) (1993)38 CFR 3.312(b) (1993)38 CFR 3.312(c)(1) (1993)38 CFR 3.312(c)(3)38 USC 1112(b)(15)38 USC 131038 USC 5101(b)38 USC 5121(a)38 USC 5121(c)38 USC 7104(d)(1)38 USC 7252(a)

Denial Type

Credibility|Not Service Connected

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Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.