The DIC claim is denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years prior to his death. The cause of death claim is remanded as an addendum opinion is needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the statutory duration requirements for a total disability rating at the time of death, and there was no CUE in any decision on a claim filed during the Veteran’s lifetime that would have allowed him to receive compensation at the total rate prior to September 2003.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radicular pain, sinusitis, coronary artery disease (CAD), scar on the right thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19136392
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (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 19136392.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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