The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran requires the aid and attendance of another person to protect him in his daily environment due to service-connected disabilities. As such, entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to be so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- low back condition, major depressive disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, neurological manifestations of his left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, constipation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1734822
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 1734822.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
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