The Board denied the survivor's pension as the appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse and he did not have service during a period of wartime.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the fact that the appellant divorced the Veteran in March 2001, which disqualifies her from being considered his surviving spouse for pension purposes. Additionally, the Veteran's service did not meet the requirements for a period of wartime.
- 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 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038762
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.