The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mechanical low back strain with fibromyalgia and degenerative changes, post-operative right inguinal hernia, instability and residuals of meniscectomy of the left knee, and a post-operative scar of a right inguinal hernia, meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities independently rate at 70 percent combined, which meets the requirement for special monthly compensation due to being housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical low back strain with fibromyalgia and degenerative changes, post-operative right inguinal hernia, instability and residuals of meniscectomy of the left knee, a post-operative scar of a right inguinal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 26, 2006
- Citation
- 0611982
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0611982.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 14, 2012 for the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for post-operative right inguinal hernia, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further evidentiary development due to additional medical records being added to the claim file.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, a VA medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety, major depression, and panic disorder or prescribed medications contributed to his death.
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