The Board granted increased DIC benefits for the surviving spouse of a veteran who was in receipt of a total disability rating for over eight years prior to his death and was legally married at the time of the veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported that the Veteran and Appellant were in a marital relationship and cohabitated for at least the continuous eight-year period prior to the Veteran's death, satisfying the requirements for 8x8 benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2).
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25033468
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.