The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits due to the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he does not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the veteran is helpless or nearly so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, based on his ability to perform routine duties with assistance when needed.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, gastrectomy, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, left elbow degenerative joint disease, right elbow degenerative joint disease, left wrist degenerative joint disease, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left ankle degenerative joint disease, right ankle degenerative joint disease, high blood pressure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2004
- Citation
- 0401728
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 0401728.
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 issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and shortness of breath as untimely. The claim for a back disability was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran was awarded service connection for allergic rhinitis based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, is not warranted.
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