Citation Nr: 20052014
Decision Date: 08/05/20	Archive Date: 08/05/20

DOCKET NO. 18-46 579
DATE: August 5, 2020

REMANDED

An increased special monthly pension (SMP) rate due to medical expenses.

 

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from November 1965 to August 1969.  The Veteran died in November 2017 and the appellant is his surviving spouse.

The case is on appeal from an April 2018 decision.

An increased SMP rate due to medical expenses.

The appellant is seeking an increased SMP rate due to caregiver medical expenses.  In a May 2018 statement, an individual reported assisting the appellant for 2 hours per day and charging $12.50 per hour.  Thereafter, in a December 2019 expense form, the appellant reported paying a home attendant Registered Nurse $1,200 per month.  

In October 2019, the Pension Management Center (PMC) requested receipts or other documentation of proof of payment for the care provider services.  

Thereafter, the appellant submitted a list of payments for the home attendant expenses in December 2019 and documentation of payment for medical expenses in February 2020.  However, the submitted material appears to be documentation unrelated to the claimed caregiver expenses.

On remand, the appellant should be afforded another opportunity to submit adequate proof of payment for the claimed caregiver expenses.

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The claim is REMANDED for the following action:

Request the appellant and her representative submit sufficient documentation of proof of payment for the claimed care provider services from November 2017 to the present.

 

 

RYAN T. KESSEL

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	D. Jimerfield

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.