The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, acting on their own, do not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance. Therefore, he is not entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathies, acting alone, were not causing his need for aid and assistance, but rather, a combination of other non-service connected disorders (dizziness, imbalances) and advancing age were causing him to be unable to protect himself from daily environmental hazards.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals associated with a right thigh shrapnel wound, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, right lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, gastroduodenal ulcer, left hallux scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1756622
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 1756622.
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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