The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to missing VA treatment records, a lack of a VA examination addressing only his service-connected disorders, and an inability to attend the scheduled hearing.
The deciding factor: The decision is being remanded because there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been associated with the claims file, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's need for aid and attendance is solely due to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- prostate cancer, right ankle disability, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20067472
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding its etiology.
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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.