Citation Nr: 22017282
Decision Date: 03/24/22	Archive Date: 03/24/22

DOCKET NO. 16-03 227
DATE: March 24, 2022

ORDER

The appeal of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis with posterior collateral ligament enthesopathy and chondrocalcinosis is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar scoliosis is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left hip strain with leg length alignment asymmetry, bursitis, and tendonitis is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to a compensable rating for a left hip strain with impairment of the thigh is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to a compensable rating for a left hip strain with limitation of extension of the thigh is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to a compensable rating prior to January 7, 2016, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter, for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including mild post-traumatic headaches, is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to a compensable rating for a pelvis fracture is dismissed.

The appeal of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is dismissed.

FINDING OF FACT

On February 24, 2022, the Board was notified that the appellant died on February [REDACTED], 2022.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

Due to the death of the appellant, 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 appellant died during the pendency of this appeal.  As a matter of law, appellants' claims do not survive their deaths.  Therefore, this appeal must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.  38 U.S.C. § 7104(a); 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302.

There are, however, provisions in place to allow for an eligible person to take the Veteran's place in his appeal in order to get a final decision.  This process is called substitution.  The request to be substituted must be filed within one year of the Veteran's death. 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010(b).  To file a request for substitution, you may use VA Form 21P-0847, "Request for Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant," which can be found online here: 

https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21P-0847-ARE.pdf.  

The completed form may be submitted electronically via ACCESSVA.  The web address for ACCESSVA is:

https://eauth.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectFor=dmhs.  

Alternatively, you may mail the completed form to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Pension Intake Center

PO Box 5365

Janesville, WI 53547-5365.

You may also submit the form directly to your nearest VA regional office.  To find a VA regional office nearest you go to:

https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=benefits.

Please note that only certain persons are eligible for substitution. A person eligible for substitution includes "a living person who would be eligible to receive accrued benefits due to the claimant under section 5121(a) of this title...."  38 U.S.C. § 5121A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010(a). There is a helpful factsheet that explains who is eligible for accrued benefits here:

https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/general/Accrued.pdf.

 

 

J.W. FRANCIS

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Juliano, Counsel

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.