The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a left leg disability, neck disability, and amputation of the middle finger, are considered as a single disability. The combined rating is 80 percent effective from August 18, 1977. He has also been awarded SMC for loss of use of the left foot and TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his ability to leave home with assistance but does meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in anatomical loss or use of both feet, blindness in both eyes, permanent bedridden state, or inability to protect himself from daily environment due to his service-connected conditions. However, he is permanently confined to his dwelling and its immediate premises, unable to leave for more than short distances unattended.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative residuals of a left leg injury, residuals of a cervical spine fracture, amputation of the distal phalanx, left middle finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- March 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1513564
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 1513564.
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.
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The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis, which is service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death but rather contributed to it.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, left-hand fracture, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and TBI, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 26, 2014, for service-connected residuals of a cervical spine fracture and for a disability rating for neurological abnormalities associated with the cervical spine disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including to obtain updated treatment records and to schedule new VA examinations. The Veteran's claims include a claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar spine condition and a claim for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine fracture.
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