The Veteran died from cocaine and methadone intoxication, but there is no evidence of drug abuse prior to August 13, 1981. The claim for REPS benefits is denied as the Veteran did not meet eligibility criteria.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of drug abuse or addiction that started prior to August 13, 1981, and the death occurred after this date.
- Claimed conditions
- Drug Abuse, Seizure Disorder, Migraine Headaches, Left Shoulder Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1221023
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 1221023.
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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