The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied because he does not meet the criteria for needing such benefits due to his visual acuity issues, which do not qualify him as blind or requiring assistance in daily activities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's vision is only light perception in one eye and 10/200 in the other, failing to meet the requirement of being blind or nearly so. Additionally, he does not require regular aid and attendance due to his ability to perform most daily activities without assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- decreased visual acuity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2001
- Citation
- 0111044
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 0111044.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the relationship between left eye punctate keratitis and service-connected conditions, including whether it is secondary to left eye lagophthalmos or a disorder of the lacrimal apparatus.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum VA opinion to address the etiology of any left eye disability, including glaucoma, decreased visual acuity, and hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. The Veteran's reports of diplopia since his in-service surgery are also to be considered.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected left eye disability, leaving the issue dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether there was sustained improvement in the Veteran's vision impairment related to multiple sclerosis.
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