Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction until an initial substitution eligibility determination is made by the AOJ.
The deciding factor: The appeal became moot upon the Veteran's death, as appellants' claims do not survive their deaths under 38 U.S.C. § 7104(a).
- 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 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035529
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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.