The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate has been remanded due to insufficient information regarding his actual nonservice-connected disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical records, including from SSA, and schedule a VA examination to determine if he is in need of regular aid and assistance.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not enough information about the Veteran's actual nonservice-connected disabilities to determine whether they required aid and attendance or kept him housebound. Therefore, additional medical records are needed for an accurate assessment.
- Claimed conditions
- Severe lumbar paravertebral myositis with clinical L4, L5, S1 lumbar radiculopathy, Depressive disorder not otherwise specified, Status post-operative left knee arthroscopic surgery times three with significant degenerative joint disease of the knees and metallic foreign body of the soft tissues of the right side by x-rays, Uncontrolled arterial hypertension, Right ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2011
- Citation
- 1137604
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 1137604.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection for hypertension was granted in June 2023 based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date is not warranted.
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