The Veteran's son, M.D.W., was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years and is therefore not recognized as a helpless child. The cause of death (cardiorespiratory arrest due to or a consequence of brain death) was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected schizophrenia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death and it was not etiologically related to the cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0927562
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 0927562.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's attorney, J.M., waived her right to attorney fees generated from the grant of past-due benefits in the July 2013 rating decision. As a result, the Board finds that attorney fees are not warranted and grants the Veteran's appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected chronic paranoid schizophrenia prior to February 28, 2011, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously granted, and the appeal is dismissed. The Board has now granted service connection for a schizophrenic spectrum disorder, finding that it cannot be reasonably disassociated from his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected chronic paranoid schizophrenia is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 100 percent is warranted due to worsening symptoms.
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