The Board has determined that the appellant may need to be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA benefits purposes, including death pension and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits. However, this determination is contingent on further investigation into the separation between the appellant and the Veteran at the time of his death in January 1974, as well as her subsequent marriage to W.D.
The deciding factor: The evidence suggests that the appellant and the Veteran were married but separated at the time of the Veteran's death. The effect of this separation on their marital status is unclear and requires further investigation.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2012
- Citation
- 1206125
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1206125.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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).
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