The Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, and DIC benefits are granted. The issue of entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.
The deciding factor: The probative medical evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (cold injuries) contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, which was listed on the death certificate as cardiac arrest and respiratory failure due to probable myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease with hypertension contributing to death.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of cold injuries to the bilateral hands and feet, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy associated with cold injuries to the bilateral hands, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2026
- Citation
- A26032447
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 A26032447.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's cause of death due to these conditions is also recognized.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the August 2023 rating decision granting a TDIU was not an initial decision, making the appellant eligible for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and hypertension due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The Board found that there was no exposure to herbicide agents during service and that the Veteran did not have any in-service onset or relationship between his current conditions and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Meniere's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary arteriosclerosis, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to service-connected hearing loss. The claims are being remanded because VA did not provide a medical examination in association with these claims, and there is insufficient evidence to support a full grant of the benefit sought.
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