The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound examination. The hearing request was deemed withdrawn as the Veteran did not attend the previously scheduled April 2019 Board hearing.
The deciding factor: The Veteran needs updated medical records regarding his recent surgery and related treatment, which are essential to assess his current condition and capabilities for SMC determination.
- Claimed conditions
- Housebound status, Need for aid and attendance
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194548
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,249 · Granted: 37% (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 19194548.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) based on the presence of two SMC(l) awards. The SMC(o) rate is warranted because the Veteran has suffered disability under conditions that would entitle him to two or more of the rates provided in subsections (l) through (n), with no condition being considered twice.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the appellant's housebound status prior to May 8, 2013. The VA needs to obtain a retrospective opinion addressing whether the appellant was permanently housebound as a result of his service-connected disabilities for that period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for housebound status or permanent need for regular aid and attendance, requiring a new examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding records within constructive possession of VA that were not associated with the claim file prior to the decision on appeal.
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