The Board has determined that the appellant should be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse, but due to a contested claim involving another individual (D.G.L.), the case must be remanded for proper procedural steps.
The deciding factor: The appellant is seeking recognition as the Veteran’s surviving spouse, which impacts her entitlement to DIC benefits and pension/accrued benefits. The status of D.G.L., who was previously recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse, needs to be addressed through contested claims procedures.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19104828
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.