Citation Nr: 18160411
Decision Date: 12/26/18	Archive Date: 12/26/18

DOCKET NO. 18-08 886
DATE:	December 26, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer is dismissed.
FINDING OF FACT 
A copy of the Veteran’s death certificate, which is of record, shows that the Veteran died in September 2018.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
Due to the death of the Veteran, the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim at this time.  38 U.S.C. § 7104 (a) (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302 (2017); but see 38 U.S.C. § 5121A (2012).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION 
Unfortunately, the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.  As a matter of law, appellants' 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 by virtue of the death of the Veteran and must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.  See 38 U.S.C. § 7104 (a) (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 20.1302 (2017).
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 (2017).  The Board's dismissal of this appeal does not affect the right of an eligible person to file a request to be substituted as the appellant for purposes of processing the claim to completion.  Such request must be filed not later than one year after the date of the Veteran's death.  38 U.S.C. § 5121A (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010 (b) (2017).  A person eligible for substitution will include a living person who would be eligible to receive accrued benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 5121(a).  38 U.S.C. § 5121A (2012)
An eligible party seeking substitution in an appeal that has been dismissed by the Board due to the death of the claimant should file a request for substitution with the regional office from which the claim originated.
 
MICHAEL LANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. E. Kim, Associate Counsel 

For A Complete Guide To VA Disability Claims and to find out more about your potential VA disability case and how to obtain favorable VA Rating Decision! Visit: VA-Claims.org

For More Information on Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits! Visit: DisableVeteran.org ~ A Non-Profit Non Governmental Agency