The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension as a helpless child of the deceased Veteran due to her previous marriage, which disqualified her from receiving benefits.
The deciding factor: The appellant was previously married and did not meet the criteria for being considered a helpless child of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- mental health issues
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21029810
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 21029810.
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: Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and headaches were denied. An increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for right foot pes planus was granted prior to August 10, 2023, and denied on and after that date. Other issues related to ratings and effective dates were also denied or remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for compensation due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claim for residuals of colon injury secondary to radiation treatment for prostate cancer will be reconsidered.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claimed conditions, including memory and comprehension difficulties, mental health issues, nightmares, vivid dreams, irritability, anger, anxiety, mood swings, low coping abilities, depression, conflicts, hypervigilance, time lapses, compulsive/impulsive habits, gastrointestinal symptoms, joint aches, muscle fatigue, genital warts, and ear, nose, and throat condition are not service-connected. The Veteran's service-connected conditions account for the majority of his reported symptoms.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's mental state during service and his discharge character. The case will be reviewed after obtaining additional medical opinions.
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