The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death from hepatic encephalopathy, cirrhosis, and Alzheimer's dementia. The issue of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 USC 1318 is dismissed as moot.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s alcohol abuse was secondary to his service-connected PTSD, which caused or contributed substantially to his death from hepatic encephalopathy, cirrhosis, and Alzheimer's dementia.
- Claimed conditions
- Alzheimer's dementia, cirrhosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19153551
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 19153551.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer residuals and cirrhosis, both presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Alzheimer's dementia, finding it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
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