The Veteran died in a private hospital due to cardiorespiratory arrest. The appellant asserts that the Veteran was receiving care at VA expense, but there are no records available. The Board orders additional action to obtain relevant records and determine if the Veteran's death qualifies for nonservice-connected burial benefits.
The deciding factor: There are no VA treatment records available to confirm or deny the appellant’s claim regarding the Veteran's care 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
- November 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19187864
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.