The Veteran's death was not service-connected, but he had a total disability rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied because the Veteran did not meet the criteria of having a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years immediately preceding death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's total disability rating was due to his service-connected disabilities, but he did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years immediately preceding death.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain, Pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18100782
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 18100782.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for pes planus of the left foot as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral foot pain disorder related to service and denied the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection. The claims for pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The PTSD rating is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for right knee injury pain. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and pes planus are remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering toxic exposure risk activities.
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