The Board found that the appellant and Veteran did not establish a valid common law marriage under New Hampshire law prior to September [Redacted], 2017, which is required for DIC benefits. The appeal was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the appellant and Veteran declared or avowed a legal relationship as required by New Hampshire law for a period of three years preceding the Veteran's 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 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19130662
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19130662.
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.