The Veteran's cause of death, cardiac dysrhythmia, was found to be related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection for the cause of death is granted. DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied as he did not meet the durational requirements.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cardiac dysrhythmia was found to be related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, which substantially contributed to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiac dysrhythmia, cirrhosis, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176383
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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- Denied
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- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for sinus disability, bilateral hip disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, skin disability, back disability, bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities.
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