The appellant was denied recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA purposes due to evidence showing they were divorced at the time of his death.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran and the appellant were divorced in July 1987 and remained divorced at the time of the Veteran's death in March 2021, thus disqualifying her from recognition as the surviving spouse for VA purposes.
- 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
- A24073872
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.