The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as the surviving spouse's adult daughter because she failed to submit sufficient documentation of expenses she personally paid for the surviving spouse's last sickness or burial. Although the appellant credibly testified that she paid expenses in cash, she provided no evidence or receipts to substantiate these claims despite being encouraged to do so.

The deciding factor: The appellant, as an adult daughter of the surviving spouse, could only qualify for accrued benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 5121(a)(6) if she bore the expense of the surviving spouse's last sickness and/or burial and provided documentation to prove it, but she failed to submit sufficient evidence of payment despite the opportunity to do so.

Claimed conditions

Not specified in this decision

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

March 4, 2025

Citation

A25019299