The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for spouse's benefits is being remanded due to the need for compliance with VCAA notice and assistance provisions.
The deciding factor: The case must be returned to the RO for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) which requires notification and assistance in developing evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Spouse's benefits
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2004
- Citation
- 0404565
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 0404565.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.