The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC at the 'o' level due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have anatomical loss or loss of use of both feet, one hand and one foot, blindness in both eyes, or permanent bedridden status. His service-connected disabilities do not qualify him for a higher SMC rating under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. �1114(p).
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Diabetes, Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, Dermatitis, Shell fragment wounds of the left elbow and knees, Erectile dysfunction, Hypertension, Limitation of extension of the right knee, Limitation of extension of the left knee, Bilateral knee posttraumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2013
- Citation
- 1329863
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 1329863.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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