The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has significant impairment of his left lower extremity due to weakness, but this incapacity is attributed to a nonservice-connected stroke. His service-connected conditions do not independently render him helpless as defined by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- status post-operative amputation, second to fifth toes of the right foot with hallux valgus, right great toe, cervical spondylosis (carpal tunnel syndrome) - right status post release, duodenal ulcer disease with reflux esophagitis, degenerative changes of the right knee with history of chondromalacia of the patella, cervical spondylosis (carpal tunnel syndrome) - left status post release, chondromalacia of the left patella, pes planus, left foot, Hepatitis C (0 percent disabling)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- December 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1554265
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 1554265.
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for pes planus, right foot and left foot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various foot and hand disorders due to a failure to ensure that VA complied with its duty to assist the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for pes planus, left foot and chronic kidney disease Stage 1 as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for pes planus, right foot and asthma. The claim for service connection for pes planus, left foot is remanded.
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