The appellant's son was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday, and therefore is ineligible for recognition as the veteran's surviving child.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the appellant's son became permanently disabled before reaching age 18 due to a physical or mental disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Permanent incapacity for self-support
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2001
- Citation
- 0125255
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0125255.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's adult child, L.B., is seeking DIC benefits based on her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18. The AOJ did not obtain all relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records in making its decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to VA's failure to provide clear information about obtaining medical records and non-medical evidence. The Veteran is asked to authorize release of relevant medical records from specific doctors and submit any additional non-medical evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks recognition of his son W.L.D. as a 'helpless child' based on permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18. The AOJ did not obtain all relevant SSA records, and this error is being corrected.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's son, D., is a disabled dependent of the Veteran. The Board finds there was a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist and requires remand for additional development including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and Dr. R.G.'s treatment records.
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