The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disease with aortic valve replacement does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish that the veteran needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disability, as other nonservice-connected conditions are primarily responsible for requiring assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic heart disease with aortic valve replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2005
- Citation
- 0517117
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 0517117.
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 case due to incomplete development and referral of the TDIU claim for consideration under 38 C.F.R. §4.16(b).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The VA has determined that the veteran's rheumatic heart disease with aortic valve replacement warrants a rating of 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated medical records and a cardiac examination.
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