The Board has determined that the AOJ did not substantially comply with previous remand instructions and requires further development to ensure proper contact with the interested party (H.L.) regarding the issue of recognition as a surviving spouse. The appeal will be returned for this purpose.
The deciding factor: The AOJ failed to verify the correct mailing address or contact information of the interested party (H.L.), resulting in failure to provide necessary documentation and notifications required by contested claims procedures.
- 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 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19189483
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 19189483.
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
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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.