The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, which are presumed to be related to his Vietnam-era service. The appellant is also eligible for DEA benefits under Chapter 35, and her claim for DIC benefits under Section 1318 is dismissed as moot.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were presumptively related to his Vietnam-era service, which qualifies him for service connection. The appellant was also eligible for DEA benefits due to her surviving spouse status, while her DIC claim under Section 1318 is moot as her death was not service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0315456
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 0315456.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral knee strain to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus; granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer; and restored the 10 percent rating for hypertension.
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