The veteran's cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome due to alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis, was not related to service or any service-connected disability. The veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The veteran died from a non-service connected cause (hepatorenal syndrome due to alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis) and was not rated as totally disabled by VA for at least ten years immediately preceding death.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis, Hepatorenal syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 24, 2008
- Citation
- 0832741
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0832741.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not related to service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC or survivor pension benefits. The Appellant also does not qualify for accrued benefits due to a lack of pending claims at the time of her husband's death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his military service and thus not meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome with end stage liver disease, is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse. As the Veteran's PTSD was found to be a contributory cause of death, service connection for the cause of death is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his liver failure.
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