The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The VA needs to obtain any decision and related medical records from SSA, as well as provide an opportunity for the Veteran to submit additional evidence.
The deciding factor: The claims file lacks necessary information regarding a previous decision on SSA benefits and associated medical records, which could be relevant to the Veteran's claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19178910
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
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.