The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD) is found to have contributed to his death by causing him to use tobacco products after service, leading to the respiratory causes of his death. The claim for DIC benefits and increased death pension are granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions indicate that the Veteran's PTSD may have contributed to his continued nicotine use and eventual death, but it cannot be said with greater than 50% probability that it caused the tobacco use after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychoneurosis (assessed as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), Bilateral Conjunctivitis, Residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right heel
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2010
- Citation
- 1004021
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 1004021.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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