The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death under 38 U.S.C. § 1310, allowing the appellant to receive DIC benefits. The appeal regarding DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in relative equipoise, with a finding that the Veteran's addictive disorder/polysubstance abuse disorder was aggravated by his service-connected chronic physical disabilities and/or PTSD, leading to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- addictive disorder, polysubstance abuse disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20039199
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 20039199.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bipolar disorder with psychotic features and polysubstance abuse disorder was granted a 100 percent disability rating as of January 23, 2020, and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in favor of a link between any current condition and military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD. The claims for tinnitus, left forearm condition, right wrist condition (claimed as a forearm condition), right hand condition, lower back condition, and PTSD are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and polysubstance abuse disorder, is granted. The petition to reopen a claim for service-connected for an eye disability is also granted. Other issues are remanded.
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