The Board denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as the Veteran was not in receipt of a total service-connected disability rating for 10 continuous years immediately preceding his death.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran met any of the criteria required to qualify for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as he was not continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Systemic complications of multiple traumatic injuries due to or as a consequence of a motor vehicle crash, Myocardial infarction (STEMI), Hypertension, Atrial fibrillation, Diastolic congestive heart failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25033424
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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- Granted
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