The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to unclear self-care function impairment caused by service-connected disabilities versus nonservice-connected cervical spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to clarify how much of the self-care function impairment is due to the veteran's service connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy, and how much is due to nonservice-connected postoperative cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy, Postoperative cervical spine stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2008
- Citation
- 0840892
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 0840892.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection and special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of the left hand due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,The Board also denied service connection and SMC for loss of use of the right hand due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, have rendered her unable to complete daily activities without assistance. The Board has determined that she is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her physical incapacities.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the June 2025 AOJ decision regarding entitlement to service connection for disabilities caused by thyroid is dismissed. The AOJ's denial of other claims (bilateral knee, shoulder, hip, neuropathy, and stomach ulcer) is remanded.
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