The Board denied the claim for accrued benefits as there is no convincing proof that a claim was filed, and if it had been, the Veteran and appellant would have had until shortly after his death to file a request under the 'Special Claims Handling Procedures for Missing Documents'.
The deciding factor: There is no convincing proof that the Veteran or appellant filed a claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- ALS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074032
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for separate compensable initial evaluations and an increased evaluation for ALS, as well as the issue of whether the severance of service connection for myelopathy was proper.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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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.