The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and/or private treatment records, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination(s) to determine his need for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or on being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, and address whether he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current VA examinations do not specifically address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone meet the criteria necessary to establish entitlement to SMC. The Veteran’s wife testified at the Board hearing about his worsening psychiatric disability and inability to attend the hearing due to his condition, which necessitates a remand for an appropriate examination.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with bipolar disorder, opioid abuse, cystic acne, status post-surgery, lumbosacral spine with stabilizing rod placement, osteoarthritis, bilateral knees, tinnitus, scar status post left iliac crest graft site and pilonidal cyst, hallux valgus with bunion formation, left foot, status post injury to left hand, bilateral hearing loss, retrograde ejaculation secondary to failed back syndrome, genital warts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20011326
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 20011326.
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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