The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional aid and attendance allowance under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r)(2), finding that it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities caused a need for daily personal health care services provided by a licensed person.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause a need for such services due to his inability to handle contact lenses himself, necessitating his wife's assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of use of both hands, Loss of use of bilateral feet, Aphakic glaucoma and bilateral dislocated crystalline lenses
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2011
- Citation
- 1145696
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1145696.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher level of SMC and SMC based on loss of use of the lower extremities due to duty-to-assist errors, lack of sufficient medical evidence, and inextricably intertwined issues.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of February 11, 2020 for service connection of loss of use of both hands and feet as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for loss of use of both hands and feet, as well as higher levels of special monthly compensation based on these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the loss of use of both hands and feet, as the evidence supports that the Veteran has lost effective function in his extremities to a degree that would be equally well-served by amputation with suitable prosthetic appliances.
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