The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional disability compensation benefits for his current dependent spouse, as there was no evidence of a change in dependency status within one year of the veteran's marriage to his current spouse.
The deciding factor: There was no communication from the veteran indicating that the status of his dependents had changed since June 1988, and he did not inform VA of his December 1999 marriage until May 2004, which is outside the one-year window for establishing an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2008
- Citation
- 0811010
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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.