The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits due to a lack of prior claims, and awarded the benefits on October 31, 2016.
The deciding factor: No communication was received prior to October 31, 2016 that could be construed as a formal or informal claim for dependency benefits. The earliest evidence of any kind associated with the act or intention of filing a claim is the October 31, 2016 claim for compensation.
- Claimed conditions
- spouse, child A.D., other child A.D.
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20027360
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 20027360.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for adding his child J. and spouse A. as dependents, finding that the appropriate dates were August 21, 2019, and September 2, 2020 respectively.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for aid and attendance benefits for her deceased spouse was denied because the claim was submitted after the death of the spouse.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for dependency benefits for his spouse and stepson J. was granted effective from May 10, 2003.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's adopted child and spouse are not entitled to an effective date earlier than August 1, 2004 and June 1, 2005 respectively for the payment of additional disability compensation benefits.,VA was notified of the existence of the dependent minor child on May 9, 2005. The earliest possible effective date for payment is August 1, 2004. For the spouse, VA was notified on May 9, 2005 but the veteran did not notify VA until five years later. The earliest possible effective date for payment of additional disability compensation benefits based on marriage to the spouse is June 1, 2005.
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