The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to a duty to assist error, specifically the failure to obtain a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
The deciding factor: The AOJ did not request or schedule a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria necessary to establish entitlement to SMC before the October 2020 rating decision on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25046248
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.