The Board determined that the decedent did not have active military service and therefore does not qualify for VA benefits, including DIC.
The deciding factor: The Decedent's service records showed only Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) in the Army Reserves, with no evidence of active duty service. The death certificate indicated multiple cerebral infarcts as the immediate cause of death, which occurred 16 days prior to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple cerebral infarcts, Hypotension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2018
- Citation
- 1824610
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1824610.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was hemorrhagic shock with multiorgan failure and acute gastrointestinal bleed, which the Board found not related to his military service or exposure to toxic chemicals. The claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The appeal for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied, while the service connection claim for hypotension was remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for eye disability and service connection for hypotension to correct duty to assist errors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ failed to properly develop the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death and toxic exposure during service at MCAS Cherry Point. The case is being remanded to obtain an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) opinion.
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