The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for helpless child benefits on behalf of his son 'P.' due to new evidence, but denied the claim as P. was not shown to be permanently incapable of self-support by reason of a mental or physical condition prior to attaining the age of 18.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not establish that P. was permanently incapable of self-support at the time he attained the age of 18.
- Claimed conditions
- mental or physical defect
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0801539
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 0801539.
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: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as a helpless child, finding that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental defect after his 18th birthday.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child due to lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical defect before her 18th birthday.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's daughter, S.P., was permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years due to mental and physical defects. The Board granted her recognition as a helpless child for VA purposes.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition of her son, A.E., as a helpless child due to insufficient evidence showing that he was permanently incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical defect at age 18.
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