The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or due to housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.
The deciding factor: The veteran has multiple nonservice-connected disabilities but no single disability rated at 100% disabling, nor are his combined ratings sufficient. He also cannot be considered in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound due to his conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- shrapnel wound in the posterior left thigh, status post myocardial infarct, coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, status post bilateral pseudophakia with intraocular lens implant, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, lumbar spine, status post right B malleolar fracture of ankle, with posttraumatic degenerative joint disease, adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2005
- Citation
- 0504029
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,377 · Granted: 17% (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 0504029.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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