The Board denied the appellant's claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) as there was no evidence to support that a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not persuasively weigh in favor of finding that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and front teeth trauma, caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death due to acute or chronic hypoxic respiratory failure due to Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia with underlying COVID-19 virus infection.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, front teeth trauma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25042722
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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