The veteran's combined nonservice-connected disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the threshold requirement for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities, but their combined rating does not reach the required level to qualify for special monthly pension benefits under either the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- antral ulcer with erosive gastritis, DUD (duodenal ulcer disease), carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, discogenic disease C3-4, C5-6, lumbar HNP (herniated nucleus pulposus), varicose veins right
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2004
- Citation
- 0405073
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,464 · Granted: 14% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0405073.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appellant withdrew his appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, so the cases are dismissed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 9, 2018, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board dismissed claims for diverticulitis, hiatal hernia, right ankle disability, and left finger scar. Claims for left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. Other conditions were remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as they were received within one year of his separation from active service, and the effective dates cannot be earlier than August 1, 2013.
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