Citation Nr: 18145101
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/26/18

DOCKET NO. 15-14 600A
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to accrued benefits is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from March 1943 to January 1946.  He passed away in February 1999.  The appellant is his adult son. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2014 determination issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension Management Center (PMC) located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  
In the appellant’s May 2015 substantive appeal (VA Form 9), he requested a Board hearing, which was subsequently scheduled in May 2018.  Although the appellant was duly notified of the time and date of the hearing, he failed to report and neither furnished an explanation for his failure to appear nor requested a postponement or another hearing.  Pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.702(d) (2017), when an appellant fails to appear for a scheduled hearing and has not requested a postponement, the case will be processed as though the request for a hearing had been withdrawn.  Thus, the Board will proceed with consideration of the appeal based on the evidence of record. 

1. Entitlement to accrued benefits is remanded.
The appellant asserts that accrued benefits should be awarded.  Specifically, he contends that his mother, the Veteran’s former spouse, was awarded aid and attendance allowance in a July 2012 rating decision.  She passed away in February 2013, prior to receiving payment for the awarded benefits.  He argues that he is owed the unpaid benefits.
The appellant’s claim for accrued benefits was received in February 2014.  At that time, he failed to provide a list of expenses for the last sickness and burial of his mother.  
However, in the appellant’s May 2015 substantive appeal, he asserted that he incurred expenses for his mother’s monthly aid and attendance from December 2011 until her death in December 2013.  He also stated that he incurred burial expenses.  
In February 2017, the appellant provided copy of a check for what was identified as “partial payment for materials.”  However, the appellant did not specify who or what the materials were for.  
As the appellant has asserted that he paid the expense of last sickness or burial for his mother, remand is required so that he may provide any proof in his possession that he bore the cost of her mother’s final illness and burial.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Request that the appellant provide documentation of any payments or expenses he personally incurred for the cost of his mother’s, the Veteran’s surviving spouse, final illness or burial (such costs could include medical care provided to the surviving spouse, doctor’s fees, copays, hospital bills, other medical costs, the costs of prescriptions, or funeral and burial expenses).

 
K. Conner
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Jones, Counsel