The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied because her income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, and she did not meet the definition of permanent and total disability due to a nonservice-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's income from Social Security and VA disability compensation exceeded the maximum annual pension rates, preventing her from qualifying for nonservice-connected pension benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- heart block, memory loss/challenges, residuals of stroke
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181490
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,249 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19181490.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) related to the Veteran's service-connected foot disability and depression.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for CAD, heart block, and coronary artery bypass graft was granted with an effective date of January 9, 1998.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more thorough examination, including METs testing, and consideration of his testimony at the Board hearing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorders, as the VA medical opinion provided was inadequate and did not consider direct service connection or secondary service connection.
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