The Board has determined that SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse is not warranted due to her functional capacity, which does not require personal assistance from others.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's spouse can dress herself, use the restroom independently, drive alone, prepare simple foods, perform light housework, and leave the home under supervision. She also has no need for protection from daily hazards or dangers due to her functional capacity.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Scars, Psoriatic Arthritis (including Psoriasis), Fibromyalgia, Ischemic Heart Disease, Osteoarthritis, COPD, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Internal Hemorrhoids, Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2017
- Citation
- 1702376
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 1702376.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
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