The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status (SMC-HB) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran is service connected for PTSD rated at 100 percent, tinnitus rated at 10 percent, and noncompensable bilateral hearing loss. The Board requested that the AOJ schedule the Veteran for a housebound examination but no such examination has been conducted due to cancellation or inability of the Veteran to attend an in-person examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities directly caused or resulted in his being substantially confined to his dwelling and the immediate premises, necessitating a remand for further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Tinnitus, Noncompensable Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23039230
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 23039230.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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