The Board denied the appellant's reinstatement of eligibility for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits as the surviving spouse of her first husband, the veteran. The decision was based on the fact that her marriage to her second husband had not been terminated by a legal proceeding prior to November 1, 1990, but rather ended due to his death in 1991.
The deciding factor: The applicable law required termination of the marriage by a legal proceeding initiated before November 1, 1990. The appellant's second husband died in 1991, which precluded her from meeting this requirement.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2000
- Citation
- 0003669
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 0003669.
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
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.