The decedent did not have qualifying military service, and therefore the appellant does not meet the requirements of basic eligibility for VA death benefits.
The deciding factor: The evidence from the National Personnel Records Center verified that the deceased had no service in the Army of the United States, no recognized guerilla service, and no service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States. The service department's determination is binding on the VA.
- 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 24, 2008
- Citation
- 0813540
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.