The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as defined by VA regulations. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if his service-connected conditions require the assistance of another person.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have anatomical loss or use of both feet, nor blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, and he is not permanently bedridden. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if his service-connected conditions require the assistance of another person.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, sensory deficits of the right lower extremities, status post metacarpophalangeal, right thumb with arthritis, tinnitus, scar associated with right thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19129267
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19129267.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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