The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board found that his widow is not entitled to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 because he did not meet the criteria for a total rating due to service-connected disability continuously from the time of release until death.
The deciding factor: The veteran's conditions were not rated as 100% disabling continuously, and there was no CUE in lifetime ratings that would have resulted in such a rating.
- Claimed conditions
- sarcoma, heart disease, duodenal ulcer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2003
- Citation
- 0334988
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 0334988.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 60 percent from January 27, 2016 to July 7, 2022 for the Veteran's duodenal ulcer, duodenitis, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an eye condition, hearing loss, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes due to a regulatory duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, heart disease, and congestive heart failure as not being related to the Veteran's active service. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical opinions.
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