The veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to tend to the basic functions of self-care without regular assistance from another person, and he is not blind or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes. Therefore, his claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.351(c)(3) as he can perform basic self-care functions with assistance when needed, such as bathing due to shoulder pain and attending to bathroom needs with a companion.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease as residual of beriberi, Corneal leukoma of the right eye and post aphakia of the left eye with PCIOL replacement, Arthritis of the lumbar spine, sacroiliacs, Arthritis of the right hip, Arthritis of the left hip, Arthritis of the right knee, Arthritis of the left knee, Mild hallux valgus with possible gouty arthritis of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint, Pulmonary infiltrations
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2000
- Citation
- 0001264
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0001264.
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 remands the claims for further development and clarification regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities, specifically to determine if the Veteran has experienced 'the functional equivalent of range of motion loss contemplated by the next higher rating' at any point during the appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. Other claims were either granted or remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's arthritis of both knees is not related to an injury or disease incurred in active service and has not been caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple back and joint disabilities, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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