The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by hemorrhagic shock. The decision grants DIC benefits based on this finding.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes is more likely than not the contributory cause of his death due to its potential to accelerate fibrotic progression in hepatitis C, leading to cirrhosis and ultimately death.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- September 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1636340
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 1636340.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
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