The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there is no evidence showing the veteran would have been entitled to total service-connected disability compensation.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not establish that any service-connected condition caused or contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death, which was poorly differentiated nodular lymphoma. The Board found that hypothetical entitlement for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 could not be established.
- Claimed conditions
- poorly differentiated nodular lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2006
- Citation
- 0603835
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.