The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of a need for regular aid and attendance is denied, as there is no credible or competent evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities require the aid and attendance of another person. The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance with special adaptive equipment is also denied due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The veteran does not meet the criteria for regular aid and attendance based on his service-connected conditions, as there is no competent medical evidence showing that he requires such aid. Additionally, he does not have a loss or use of one or both feet or hands due to service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of frostbite of the right lower extremity, residuals of frostbite of the left lower extremity, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2006
- Citation
- 0609971
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person from June 2, 2020, to November 11, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating for tinnitus or a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was also denied as there was no current diagnosis of PTSD or other mental health condition.
- Dismissed
Your service connection claims for a psychiatric disability and residuals of frostbite of the left and right lower extremities have been granted in a June 2020 rating decision. Your appeal is dismissed as these benefits are already effective.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for further clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The VA examiner will be asked to address whether any diagnosed conditions are related to active duty service.
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