Claim for Death Gratuity for Husband

The wife of a deceased Army member appealed a settlement which disallowed her claim for the death gratuity payable incident to the death of her husband who was killed in 1945. The claim was presented to the Army in 1945, but was not paid, and was presented to GAO in 1973. The pertinent records have been destroyed and the time limitation on presentation of the claim has passed; the claim was not paid.