Denied
The appellant's claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits was denied as the surviving spouse had a higher priority and received the full amount of $300. The Board acknowledged the appellant's costs but could not grant benefits due to legal authority.
The deciding factor: The appellant's claim must be denied as a matter of law because neither the agency nor the Board is free to disregard laws and regulations enacted for the administration of VA programs.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19145647
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.