The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a 'helpless child' of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18, finding that he was capable of self-support at 18.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not reflect that the claimant's mental impairment impacted his ability to function in a work environment prior to his 18th birthday, and he reported working full-time from the age of 14 until becoming physically disabled in 1988.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2024
- Citation
- A24073851
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
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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.