The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be related to his service-connected delusional disorder and parasomnia, which contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the statutory duration requirements for a total disability rating at the time of death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be related to his service-connected delusional disorder and parasomnia, which contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the statutory duration requirements for a total disability rating at the time of death.
- Claimed conditions
- delusional disorder, parasomnia, tonsillectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19125865
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,913 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19125865.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, right knee disability, tonsillectomy, and uvulectomy. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal, so the case is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with parasomnia and sleep paralysis is granted as service connected, with the presumption that it began during active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia from December 29, 2020, but denied increased ratings for the veteran's other conditions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.