The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1971 decision deeming the marriage invalid, but determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse.
The deciding factor: The appellant submitted statements claiming she did not know of the impediment at the time of her marriage, which relates an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.
- 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
- August 20, 2014
- Citation
- 1437322
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 1437322.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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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