The appeal seeking reinstatement of the Veteran's former spouse (LL) as a dependent, effective February 1, 2022, on his Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation benefits award is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence that the Veteran and LL were remarried after their reported December 2009 divorce. The Veteran's consistent reports of being divorced in December 2009 and not providing any evidence of a subsequent marriage to LL make his filing of the 2022 VA Form 21-686c inexplicable.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052815
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.