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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20039199.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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