The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran was infected with HIV during a blood transfusion performed at a VA medical facility in December 1983, and grants dependency and indemnity compensation for the cause of the veteran's death under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
The deciding factor: The Board places significant probative value on the fact that the veteran's only risk factor for HIV infection involved blood transfusions, and testing to detect antibodies against HIV was not performed at the time of the December 1983 transfusion.
- Claimed conditions
- AIDS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2000
- Citation
- 0033510
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 0033510.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his active military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran was not rated totally disabled at any point, and the death certificate lists sepsis as the immediate cause of death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his hypertension, which in turn contributed to his cerebrovascular disease/event and death. The Board finds this evidence is at least in equipoise, granting service connection for the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the diagnosed conditions were not related to his active service.
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