What must the evidence in the file at the date of death indicate for accrued benefits eligibility?

For a veteran's accrued benefits eligibility, it is essential that the evidence in the file at the date of death supports the existence of those accrued benefits. This means that the documentation must clearly indicate that there were benefits that the veteran was entitled to receive but had not yet been paid out prior to their death. This could encompass evidence of pending claims, medical records, or any relevant submissions that demonstrate a claim for benefits that existed at the time of the veteran's passing.

The focus on the evidence needing to support the existence of accrued benefits ensures that the eligibility determination can be made based on valid and substantiated claims that were open before the veteran died. Establishing that there were indeed benefits that could have been claimed serves as a crucial factor in determining the right to those benefits for the veteran's survivors.