The veteran's death was not service-connected, but the RO granted DIC benefits based on secondary service connection for a left knee disability. The claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran died from natural causes and had a service-connected right knee disability rated as totally disabling for at least five years prior to his death. However, he did not meet the requirement of having been rated totally disabled for 10 or more years immediately preceding death due to his left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 22, 2003
- Citation
- 0324502
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 0324502.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including separate ratings for instability and meniscal conditions, but denied higher ratings for flexion limitations in both knees. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for tension headaches effective September 13, 2022, but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions.
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