The Board denied DIC benefits due to a lack of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, and did not consider the appellant's argument that the claim should have been evaluated under 38 U.S.C. § 1318(b).
The deciding factor: The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in denying DIC benefits due to a lack of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as the relevant law was not applicable at the time of the decision.
- Claimed conditions
- schizophrenic reaction, paranoid type, thrombophlebitis, partial atrophy of a creative organ
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2000
- Citation
- 0022139
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0022139.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, which was related to his schizophrenia that began during service. The Board found that this disability substantially contributed to the Veteran's untimely death by suicide.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of phlebitis and thrombophlebitis, secondary to residuals of pericarditis, due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your service connection for schizophrenia has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because the claim was already resolved in October 2020.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected post-phlebitic syndrome of the left leg does not render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis, as his education and work history do not support a finding that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
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