The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied because the veteran was not service-connected for any disability at the time of his death, and did not meet the criteria specified in the law.
The deciding factor: The veteran's death did not result from a service-connected disability, and he did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for the required periods prior to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2008
- Citation
- 0814140
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
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.