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Granted

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his Bell's palsy and otitis media, result in dizziness and gait instability requiring regular aid and attendance. As a result, SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected Bell's palsy and otitis media resulted in significant dizziness and gait instability, necessitating the need for regular aid and attendance.

Claimed conditions
Bell's palsy with complete paralysis, left facial nerve, otitis media superative, bilateral mastoidectomy, anxiety reaction associated with bilateral hearing loss, blepharosynechia, moderately disfiguring, left eye
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
80%
Decision date
July 31, 2006
Citation
0622702

Veterans Law Judge

JOHN J. CROWLEY

Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 0622702.

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

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