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Denied

The Board denied the claimant's recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of a valid marriage and because there was no evidence that she entered into the marriage without knowledge of the legal impediment.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the claimant did not meet the requirements for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse, including the requirement of a valid marriage under state law and the absence of any indication that she entered into the marriage with knowledge of the legal impediment.

Claimed conditions
Not specified in this decision
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
November 16, 2001
Citation
0126483

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 0126483.

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