The appellant is not eligible for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because she was over the age of 25 when her stepfather became permanently and totally disabled.
The deciding factor: The appellant's eligibility for DEA benefits was determined to be based on her status as a stepchild of a veteran who had a total and permanent service-connected disability. However, she was older than 25 at the time her stepfather received this determination.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19176946
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.