The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs clarification of a September 2014 statement from his physician regarding his ADL limitations.
The deciding factor: Incomplete development, specifically the need for clarification of the September 2014 statement from the Veteran's physician.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1725713
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 1725713.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the spine is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's increased symptoms in his lower back are attributable to a non-service connected lower back disability, and the Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected low back strain is not warranted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for GERD on a secondary basis as it was caused by the Veteran's spine disability.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's chronic back disability did not have its clinical onset in service or until years later and is not otherwise related to his active service. Degenerative joint disease of the spine was also not exhibited within the first post-service year.
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