The Veteran had service-connected disabilities, but did not meet the criteria for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) as he was not in receipt of a total disability rating for eight years prior to his death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined disability rating was 70% and did not meet the requirement of an 8-year continuous period of 100% disability prior to death.
- Claimed conditions
- arteriosclerotic coronary disease with hypertension and angina syndrome, traumatic arthritis of the right knee, traumatic arthritis of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 1, 2011
- Citation
- 1143987
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 1143987.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes, deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left knee and plantar fasciitis of the right foot prior to January 2, 2024, are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded as it was not raised by the Veteran prior to the September 2021 rating decision on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand two claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions and the need for further examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, were found to be contributory causes of his death. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
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