Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits because she did not meet the requirements for a valid marriage prior to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The appellant failed to provide evidence that her and the Veteran had a valid marriage for one year or more prior to the Veteran’s death in December 2011.
- 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 15, 2020
- Citation
- A20015634
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.