Denied
The claim for recognition as the surviving spouse is denied because she was legally married to another person at the time of her husband's death, and there are no exceptions that would allow her to be considered his surviving spouse.
The deciding factor: She had divorced from her first husband and remarried a second man who refused to agree to a divorce. She was still legally married to him when her husband died.
- 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 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065755
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.