The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound status is remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination prior to the rating decision. The Board must obtain an appropriate VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his activities of daily life.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal was not supported by a VA examination assessing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his need for aid and attendance/housebound status.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral metatarsalgia with left foot fracture residuals, tinnitus, left foot, 2nd toe, 3rd toe, and 4th toe with hammer toes, right foot, 2nd toe, 3rd toe, and 4th toe with hammer toes, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2023
- Citation
- A23030208
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 A23030208.
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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