The veteran was in receipt of a 100% disability rating for defective hearing, which is considered service-connected. The appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is granted as the veteran had been rated totally disabled by VA continuously for at least ten years prior to his death.
The deciding factor: The veteran met the criteria for a total disability rating due to service-connected defective hearing, which was in effect for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Defective hearing, Prostate carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2001
- Citation
- 0116570
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 0116570.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including defective hearing and shell fragment wounds, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is due to his exposure to hazardous chemicals and ionizing radiation during service, which the Board finds sufficient for direct service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment, thus denying entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiogram results from VA treatment records.
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