The claim for accrued benefits on behalf of the Veteran's widow was denied as there were no direct accrued benefits owed and she did not meet the income requirements for a survivor’s pension.
The deciding factor: There were no direct accrued benefits due to the Veteran having no VA monetary benefits at the time of his death. The surviving spouse did not qualify for a survivor's pension or death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).
- 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 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19105972
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.