Citation Nr: 18140000
Decision Date: 10/02/18	Archive Date: 10/02/18

DOCKET NO. 16-10 319
DATE:	October 2, 2018
ORDER
The appeals are dismissed.
FINDING OF FACT
In March 2017, prior to the promulgation of a decision in the appeal, the appellant submitted a written request to withdraw all pending appeals.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The criteria for withdrawal of an appeal by the appellant have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 7105, 7108 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 20.200, 20.202, 20.204 (2018).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS
The Veteran had active service from May 1967 to March 1969, to include service in the Republic of Vietnam. Regrettably, the Veteran passed away in January 2015.  The appellant is his surviving spouse. 
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2013 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in New York, New York. 
An appeal consists of a timely filed notice of disagreement in writing, and after a statement of the case has been furnished, a timely filed substantive appeal.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(a) (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 20.200 (2018).  A substantive appeal may be withdrawn in writing by an appellant or authorized representative at any time before the Board promulgates a decision.  38 C.F.R. § 20.204(b) (2018).  Except for appeals withdrawn on the record at a hearing, appeal withdrawals must be in writing.
In the present case, in March 2017, the appellant submitted a statement in which she expressed her desire to withdraw all pending appeals.  As the appellant has withdrawn the substantive appeals, the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the appeals.  Therefore, the appeals must be dismissed.  38 C.F.R. § 20.204 (2018).
 
Kristin Haddock
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Mariah N. Sim, Associate Counsel