The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse. The VA needs to investigate divorce records in Massachusetts to determine if a divorce occurred between the couple at the time of the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The Board cannot conclusively determine if the Appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse without additional information regarding their marital status at the time of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19124818
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.