The Board denied DIC benefits for the cause of death due to congestive heart failure, renal failure, and diabetes. The Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any other location where he could be presumed exposed to herbicide agents. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were chronic in service or continuous since separation. There was also insufficient evidence linking these conditions directly to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined there was no direct service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence and because the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam where he could be presumed exposed to herbicide agents.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive Heart Failure, Renal Disease, Diabetes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20043260
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 20043260.
What this means for you
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The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for congestive heart failure, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service. The Veteran's private cardiologist and VA examiner both opined against a link between his current condition and service.
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