The Board denied the claim for survivor's pension benefits due to lack of wartime service. The DIC claim is remanded as there may be exposure to asbestos and further development is needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have active service during a period of war, specifically the Vietnam era, which is required for eligibility for survivor's pension benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- pancreatic carcinoma, malignant pleural effusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2022
- Citation
- 22008479
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 22008479.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's diffused large B-cell lymphoma stage 4 disability is related to service exposure, and secondary disabilities such as malignant pleural effusion, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gout, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and persistent depressive disorder are also related to this primary condition.,The Veteran's diffused large B-cell lymphoma stage 4 disability is a direct result of service exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, specifically the Appellant's May 2024 hearing testimony. The claim for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but further review is needed as there are conflicting opinions regarding the cause of death.
- Granted
The Board has granted the appellant's claims for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran and service connection for the cause of his death, attributing both to secondary service-connected PTSD.
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