The Veteran's condition necessitates the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been established by his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants entitlement to SMC based on this need.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's multiple sclerosis and related conditions have rendered him in need of daily personal health care services due to physical limitations and incapacity requiring assistance with activities of daily living.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple sclerosis with left hemiparesis, Left lower extremity with gait ataxia, Left upper extremity tremor, Right hand tremor, Slurred speech, Left side weakness with tongue deviation and jaw jerk
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2011
- Citation
- 1146559
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 1146559.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, eligibility for specially adapted housing, and had his appeal for a special home adaptation grant dismissed. The issues related to Parkinson's disease tremors were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for staged ratings of tremors and psychiatric disability but granted initial disability ratings for the tremors from March 13, 2017, to November 7, 2023.
- Granted
Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, and several other conditions. The remaining claims are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left and right hand tremors are rated at 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively, effective April 30, 2021. The claims for prior periods remain in appellate status due to the need for additional development.
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