The veteran's cause of death was due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which had been service-connected since March 6, 2003. The appellant sought additional compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311 based on the veteran's entitlement to a higher rate of Dependents' Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to his death while receiving total disability for eight years prior to death. However, the Board found that no earlier effective date was warranted as the first confirmed diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurred in January 1996.
The deciding factor: The veteran had not been rated 100% disabled for eight years immediately preceding his death due to the first confirmed diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring after March 6, 2003.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 22, 2007
- Citation
- 0705068
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 0705068.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective March 2, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and neck pain, finding no current disability. The claim for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate consideration of all potential exposures.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also remanded due to a lack of development of the Veteran's therapist's records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that the claim was filed within one year of separation from active duty and therefore the earliest possible effective date is October 15, 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was granted with an effective date of March 13, 2024. This decision is based on the PACT Act becoming effective and the Veteran's symptoms being consistent with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since April 14, 2022.
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