The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient for SMC based on need for regular A&A. The VA is instructed to schedule a VA SMC A&A/Housebound examination to determine if the Veteran requires assistance with ADLs.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not enough information in the record regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient for SMC based on need for regular A&A, and thus remanded the case for further clarification.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with anterolisthesis of L4 and L5 and retrolisthesis of L3 and L4, pes planus (flat feet), impairment of the right ankle, impairment of the left and right ankles, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22001574
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22001574.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death due to a vehicular accident, which was primarily caused by the driver's negligence and poor visibility conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to require the aid and attendance of another, effective April 3, 2020. The appeal for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed as moot due to the award of SMC under section 1114(l).
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment for the periods on appeal prior to May 2, 2020, and after June 1, 2020. For the period from March 2, 2020, to June 1, 2020, she was in receipt of a 100 percent schedular rating for total left wrist fusion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, so the appeal is dismissed.
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