The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to unclear findings regarding his ability to care for himself and protect himself from daily hazards.
The deciding factor: Further examination is needed to clarify the nature and extent of limitations caused by the veteran's disabilities, including vision loss, osteoarthritis, COPD, heart disorder, GERD, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and bilateral macular degeneration.
- Claimed conditions
- vision loss, osteoarthritis of multiple joints, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral macular degeneration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2004
- Citation
- 0404860
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0404860.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a respiratory disability to obtain an adequate VA examination and additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and remanded the claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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