Citation Nr: 26001908
Decision Date: 02/11/26	Archive Date: 02/11/26

DOCKET NO. 16-35 584A
DATE: February 11, 2026

ORDER

The appeal seeking service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is dismissed.

FINDING OF FACT

In December 2025, the Veteran died while this appeal was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board).

CONCLUSION OF LAW

Due to the death of the Veteran, the criteria for the dismissal of this appeal have been met. 38 U.S.C. § 7104; 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran served on active duty from February 1971 to February 1974 and August 1974 to September 1976. 

This matter is before the Board on appeal from an April 2014 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 

A Board hearing was held before the undersigned in December 2018. A transcript of the hearing is of record.

This matter was previously before the Board in June 2019, March 2020, June 2020, February 2021, December 2021, May 2022, March 2023, September 2023, and January 2024 when it was remanded for further development. 

Unfortunately, the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal. Therefore, as a matter of law, the Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim at this time and must dismiss this appeal. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302(a).

The Board's dismissal does not affect the right of an eligible person to take the Veteran's place to continue the appeal on the pending claim. This process, known as substitution, must be requested within one year of the Veteran's death. 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010(a), (b). Individuals who may be eligible for substitution include the Veteran's surviving spouse, dependent children, dependent parents, and those who bore the expenses of last sickness or burial. 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.1000(a), 3.1010(a).

In this case, no one has requested to substitute for the Veteran. Any person who would like to request substitution must submit a VA Form 21P-0847, "Request for Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant." The form and filing instructions are available online at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/. If the RO receives a request for substitution within one year of the Veteran's death and then grants the request, this dismissed appeal will resume its place on the Board's docket. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302(a).

 

 

M. SORISIO

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S.J.

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.