The veteran died of heart failure, and the Board found that he did not have a service-connected disability for at least 10 years prior to his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's shrapnel wound injury was minor and did not result in any long-term disabilities that could be rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years prior to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- heart failure, cor pulmonale, chronic lung obstruction, bronchial asthma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2007
- Citation
- 0720680
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 0720680.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU is dismissed as the issues are already pending in the legacy system, and docketing of the January 2022 NOD was erroneous.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure have been granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim for glaucoma has been denied as not related to service-connected conditions or in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for heart failure is granted secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's COPD is a separate and distinct condition from his service-connected bronchial asthma, but it is not secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma. The Board finds an addendum VA medical opinion necessary to properly determine entitlement to service connection.
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