The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance was denied due to lack of supporting evidence. The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring remand to properly calculate the Veteran’s income and expenses.
The deciding factor: The decision is remanded as there was a failure to provide proper assistance in calculating the Veteran's income and expenses for the applicable period.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2020
- Citation
- A20018056
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.