Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, as they were divorced at the time of his death.
The deciding factor: The marriage requirement under 38 C.F.R. § 3.50(b)(1) requires that a veteran and claimed surviving spouse be actually married at the time of the veteran's death to recognize the individual as a surviving spouse, with no exception for abuse.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25092114
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