The veteran died of arteriosclerotic heart disease, which was not related to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. The appellant's claim for DIC benefits is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence linking the cause of death (arteriosclerotic heart disease) to the veteran's service-connected condition (paranoid schizophrenia).
- Claimed conditions
- Arteriosclerotic heart disease, Paranoid schizophrenia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 19, 2000
- Citation
- 0010363
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0010363.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disabilities and granted service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder, but denied special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease from April 19, 2021 to September 5, 2024 and denied a higher rating thereafter.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain a medical opinion that addresses whether the Veteran's diagnosed conditions of paranoid schizophrenia and insomnia are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arteriosclerotic heart disease and PTSD, preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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