Surviving Spouse Receives $79K, DIC Following Appeal

Working with a VVA Veteran Service Officer (VSO), the surviving spouse of a disabled Vietnam veteran recently won a victory at the Board of Veterans Appeals. 

The spouse had been denied DIC benefits in 2021 but believed that her husband’s death to be related to his disability. The VSO created a plan with the spouse to gather evidence that proved that the veteran’s passing was related to his service-connected disabilities. 

The VSO and the surviving spouse made a compelling argument during the hearing, convincing the Bureau of Veterans Affairs judge to remand her case to a regional office. It took nearly two years, but the regional office ultimately granted DIC retroactively back to the date of appeal. 

The surviving spouse received retroactive pay of $79,465 and now receives monthly DIC payments as a result of the VSO’s intervention. 

Contact a VVA Veteran Service Officer to assist with your claim in states that have a benefits program here, or search for a VSO from another organization through the VA’s website in states where we do not. Enter your ZIP code or city and state, and you’ll see which VSOs serve your area.