The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent, nor has he been awarded a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a single service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating is 90% disabling from June 30, 2017, and 100% disabling from March 18, 2020. However, he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral pes planus, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder disability, right wrist scars, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip strain, right knee strain, left knee strain, tinnitus, migraine headaches, right hand strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2024
- Citation
- A24074571
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,874 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A24074571.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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