The Board has granted the appellant's claim for a nonservice-connected disability pension, including special monthly pension (SMP) for aid and attendance, based on evidence showing the veteran was eligible for these benefits prior to his death.
The deciding factor: VA failed to notify the veteran that financial information was needed to process his pension claim, leading to an incomplete application. The Board considered this evidence as if it had been submitted before the veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- pneumoconiosis, pneumonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 25, 2005
- Citation
- 0531952
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 0531952.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's pneumoconiosis during the period on appeal, finding that his Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pneumonia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and asthma as causes of death. The evidence did not support finding that these conditions were related to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pneumoconiosis and sinusitis due to in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) because of a duty to assist error. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and pneumonia due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not supported by the medical records provided.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.