The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, but the appellant is eligible for DIC benefits due to her husband being in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for more than ten years immediately preceding his death.
The deciding factor: The veteran had severe knee and leg disabilities that rendered him unable to work. His total disability ratings were granted, but not prior to September 1989. The appellant's hypothetical entitlement to a total rating is established as far back as March 1984.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Diabetes, Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0309080
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 0309080.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain new medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing his service in the Panama Canal Zone and potential exposure to toxins.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric condition and diabetes, to ensure that all relevant VA treatment records are associated with the claims file.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his alcohol-related causes of death were etiologically linked to a service-connected disability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, to include asbestosis, and remanded claims for diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and dental disabilities.
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