The Veteran's widow applied for death pension due to her need for aid and attendance. The Board found that the appellant, as a son of the Veteran and his widow, was not eligible for accrued benefits because he did not meet the legal criteria to be considered a 'child' for VA purposes. However, the appellant is entitled to reimbursement for expenses he paid out of pocket for his mother's assisted living facility during her last sickness.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the widow qualified for special monthly pension due to her need for aid and attendance, which began on May 23, 2013. The appellant provided evidence showing that he and his wife paid for the widow's assisted living facility from October 2013 through February 2014 out of pocket.
- Claimed conditions
- hypothyroidism, dementia, hypertension, overactive bladder, coronary artery disease (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20057768
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 20057768.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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- Denied
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