The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and determined that an effective date of March 21, 1996 is appropriate.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new service department records received after the January 2009 rating decision provided evidence necessary to establish service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, which led to a grant of benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c).
- Claimed conditions
- Cause of death
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26003884
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 A26003884.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of receipt within one year of the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider new evidence regarding toxic exposure at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and to issue another TERA memo.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected, and now requires further review to ensure proper notification regarding a hearing.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.