The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date prior to August 30, 2016, for the award of DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) because no formal claim was received within one year of the May 2015 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no document of record that could be construed as a formal claim for DIC received after the issuance of the May 2015 rating decision and prior to the receipt of the appellant's application to reopen on August 30, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- Cause of death
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21025590
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 21025590.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of receipt within one year of the Veteran's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider new evidence regarding toxic exposure at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and to issue another TERA memo.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected, and now requires further review to ensure proper notification regarding a hearing.
- Dismissed
The claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.