The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted death pension with aid and attendance benefits starting from January 8, 2018, due to her income being below the maximum annual pension rate.
The deciding factor: The appellant’s countable income for the period after she moved into a nursing home in 2018 was found to be lower than the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) of $8,830.00, allowing for medical expenses to be deducted from her income.
- Claimed conditions
- Alzheimer's, narcolepsy, cataplexy, peripheral neuropathy, altered mental status
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18137657
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 18137657.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for narcolepsy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's spouse is seeking to be substituted as the appellant for claims of service connection filed by the Veteran in August 2017. The AOJ has not yet determined whether she meets the requirements to substitute, and this issue must be remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of narcolepsy due to errors in fulfilling its duty to assist and lack of a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for narcolepsy, finding the evidence did not show the Veteran experienced seizures as required for a higher rating.
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