The Board has determined that the effective date for payment of additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse should be October 1, 1978, and no earlier.
The deciding factor: The veteran's marriage certificate was submitted in August 1968, and VA disability compensation had been granted since May 1968. The effective date change applied due to the Veterans Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-479), which increased eligibility for additional compensation for dependents from a combined rating of not less than 50% to one rated at least 30%. The veteran's spouse was added as a dependent effective October 1, 1978.
- Claimed conditions
- Left leg disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2002
- Citation
- 0210577
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 0210577.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Veteran's right foot condition, including pain and functional limitation, is related to service. The Veteran's right leg disability did not have an onset in service or manifest within a year of service, nor is it otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's left leg disability also did not have an onset in service or manifest within a year of service, nor is it otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide adequate VA examinations and opinions, particularly regarding exposure to burn pits and other toxins (BPOTs) during his service in the Persian Gulf.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left leg disabilities, as well as a left ankle disability, all secondary to bilateral hip, knee, and right ankle disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and sleep disturbance, and remanded the claims for a right wrist disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and bilateral foot disability.
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