The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that medical clarification is required regarding whether the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded because of an error in obtaining necessary medical clarification regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder, mild, with anxious distress with alcohol use disorder, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with L5-S1 disc bulge, tension headaches, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, flexion limitation, left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome and left hip gluteus medius tendon strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right foot Morton's neuroma with right foot first metatarsophalangeal joint sprain, tinnitus, pityriasis rosea, tenosynovitis-right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right wrist sprain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tenosynovitis-left elbow lateral epicondylitis, pronation impairment-right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, limitation of flexion, impairment of the thigh-left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome and left hip gluteus medius tendon strain, erectile dysfunction, right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, limitation of extension, extension limitation-left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome and left hip gluteus medius tendon strain, traumatic brain injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 26, 2024
- Citation
- A24085948
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 A24085948.
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 claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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