The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and for burial benefits at the service-connected rate.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran’s service-connected systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) rendered him materially less capable of resisting the effects of his cirrhosis of the liver, which caused his death. The Board also found that the Veteran's SLE had a material influence in accelerating his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), cirrhosis of the liver
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20073867
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, finding that it was due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher rating for tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 100 percent for lung cancer but granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, effective December 7, 2022.
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