I believe she will need this form for the last check of the deceased:
http://www.vba.va.go...rms/21-6898.pdf
I am not familiar with this form but see nothing else at the VA web site to cover last check of the deceased.
"VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the Veteran’s death is service-connected. In such cases, the person who bore the Veteran’s burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA."
I had to send them copy of the paid funeral bill.
If he was 100% SC P & T for ten continuous years, the VA should award her DIC will no problem (but it will take time)
This is the form she will need if applying for any accrued benefits , DIC and/or VA death Pension:
http://www.vba.va.go...-21-534-ARE.pdf
“Appeal his IHD for a higher rating and EED. I believe he's a Nehmer claim, as he didn't file. The VA did it themselves.”
Nehmer applies only to any past denied IHD claim.
She will have to substitute herself as the claimant and that form is here:
http://www.vba.va.go...21-0847-ARE.pdf
As I recall my DIC form had a part for last burial/funeral expenses.
That part should be still covered on the DIC forms.
The Life Insurance question might be answered here:
http://www.insurance...ite/default.htm
If not the policy itself might have a contact number.
http://www.va.gov/SURVIVORS/FAQs.asp -there might be more info here that she needs.
You are so right in what you said in a past post:
"Unfortunately no will or trust - people please do these things now!!! It's easier on the family if they know what you want."
I have been working on my Death file recently making it as easy as possible for my daughter to handle.
Now is the time to tell families if you want to be an organ donor.
A will and a Health Care proxy doesn't cost much for a lawyer to prepare.
Is his IHD award was under Nehmer (from what I see here it wasn't but I really cannot tell)-
and she pursues a higher IHD rating , she should let the VA know of her legal standing as Administrator or Executor of his estate.
"Two days after he died the VA awarded him 10% for IHD, back to 5/2010"
AT some point if VA needs that info they will ask her for it.
If he died Intestate,(without a will) your state laws will advise on whether she has to formally become administrator of his estate.The Surrogate's office in her county of residence would have info on this as they handle the applications and send the administration letters out.
I had to become administrator when my husband died.It was not too involved and I put the legal papers away almost 16 years ago only to find that the VA needed them for my Nehmer claim and I had to re open the Letters of Administration again.
Death is overwhelming -as it is- to survivors.
They find they suddenly have a lot of paperwork to do and they don't want to deal with anything but their grief.
Death also costs MONEY!
Survivors should have some access right away to some cash and good planning now -such as joint ownership accounts etc can make that go smoothly.
Joint ownership does not necessarily come with 2 names on a checking account.
Most Life Insurance policies pay within 10 days to 2 weeks and in some states, the funeral bills can be paid prior to any estate or administrative account is opened through a direct draw from the decedent's accounts even if the bank policy is to freeze those accounts upon death.
I hope she has a reasonably fast experience with the VA on the DIC because as you said he was 100% P & T SC for ten continous years prior to death.
