Citation Nr: 18151868
Decision Date: 11/20/18	Archive Date: 11/20/18

DOCKET NO. 14-15 999
DATE:	November 20, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C is dismissed.

INTRODUCTION
The Veteran served on active duty from November 1966 to April 1968.  In October 2018, VA learned that the Veteran died on October [redacted], 2018. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) in Phoenix, Arizona.  This claim was remanded by the Board in May 2016, for additional development.  After the issuance of a November 2016 supplemental statement of the case, the appeal was remitted to the Board for further appellate review. In the May 2016, the Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability.  In a November 2016 rating decision, service connection was granted for an unspecified stress and trauma-related disorder.  As the benefit sought on appeal has been granted, further review of this claim is moot.
FINDING OF FACT
In October 2018, VA was notified that the Veteran died on October [redacted], 2018.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
Due to the death of the Veteran, the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time. 38 U.S.C. § 7104(a); 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302.
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
Unfortunately, the Veteran died on October [redacted], 2018, during the pendency of the appeal.  As a matter of law, veterans’ claims do not survive their deaths.  Zevalkink v. Brown, 102 F.3d 1236, 1243-44 (Fed. Cir. 1996); Smith v. Brown, 10 Vet. App. 330, 333-34 (1997); Landicho v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 42, 47 (1994).  This appeal on the merits has become moot because of the death of the Veteran and must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.  See 38 U.S.C. § 7104(a); 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302.
In reaching this determination, the Board intimates no opinion as to the merits of this appeal or to any derivative claim brought by a survivor of the Veteran. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1106.
 
T. REYNOLDS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Sean G. Pflugner, Counsel