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 assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2004
- Citation
- 0405073
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,464 · Granted: 14% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0405073.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appellant withdrew his appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, so the cases are dismissed.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.