The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and he was not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as none of his service-connected disabilities were rated totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.
The deciding factor: The melanoma that resulted in the veteran's death had its onset long after service and was unrelated to the veteran's military service or any incident thereof, and the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death or contribute materially to it.
- Claimed conditions
- melanoma of 7 years duration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2008
- Citation
- 0816342
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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