I am doing genealogy research and have ordered and recieved various death
records from vital records in NYC.  I am curious.  Some state the
cause of death and others don't.  If it is not listed can i get the
cause of death?  If so how?  ( for example I have one from 1915 that
shows cause, another from 1947 does not state the cause)

I did some looking and without a cause of death listed you are pretty
much out of luck.  The only other possible recourse would be to find
the coroner?s records that signed the certificate and see if he had
any additional information stored somewhere.  There is nothing else
"official" recorded anywhere.

I hope you can find what you are looking for.

thanks gregaw... i will take a look for corner information : )

Another source I have had success with is funeral home and cemetery
records.  The death certificate might list the funeral home, if not,
get the obituary from the paper.  This would list the funeral home and
cemetery records.  The obituary might even list the cause of death. 
Older funeral homes and well established cemetery often keep good
records.  Some are even computerized now days.  Just a thought.

roosevelt1904