The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death, and he did not have a qualifying period of total disability due to service-connected disabilities for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Hemorrhoids, Head and Neck Cancer, Ischemic Heart Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19146859
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased rating for back disability, service connection for sleep apnea, left heel, and hemorrhoids, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2025, for additional development.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 12, 2022, for a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.
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