The veteran's need for aid and attendance was due to non-service-connected conditions (metastatic lung cancer, hypertension, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease), not his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits on account of veteran's need for aid and attendance of another due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examination report indicated that the veteran's need for aid and attendance was due to metastatic lung cancer, hypertension, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), which were not service-connected at the time of death.
- Claimed conditions
- enucleation of the left eyeball, traumatic multiple metallic foreign bodies in the right posterior chest wall and right upper lobe of his lung, a right back wound with moderate injury, right arm wound with moderate injury, penetrating shrapnel wound of the right cheek, chorioretinitis, healed, with normal right vision
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 26, 2007
- Citation
- 0708819
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 0708819.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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