The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse for the purpose of receiving DIC benefits due to their agreement to cohabit as husband and wife from 1980 until the veteran's death in 1984.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the appellant and the veteran agreed to cohabitate as husband and wife from 1980 until the veteran's death, held themselves out as such in their community, and did not remarry since then.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2000
- Citation
- 0014849
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 0014849.
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.