The claim for service connection for the cause of death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were both denied as the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s cause of death (plasma cell leukemia) was not related to his service-connected conditions or any in-service exposure, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
- Claimed conditions
- plasma cell leukemia (PCL)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20045117
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 20045117.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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).
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