The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for pension or special monthly pension benefits due to his unemployability and lack of permanent total disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a combined rating of at least 70% from service-connected disabilities, nor is he permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disabilities that are likely to be permanent.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain, status post right knee meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, cervicalgia, adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2014
- Citation
- 1405345
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1405345.
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).
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition was denied in a June 1996 Board decision. The Veteran filed an intent to file a claim form and submitted a formal application on August 30, 2023, which resulted in the award of service connection with an initial rating of 40% effective from that date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of August 14, 2024 for the award of a 40 percent rating for service-connected chronic compression fracture at T7 with lumbar spondylosis and thoracolumbar strain.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance.
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