The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on Aid and Attendance/Housebound was dismissed. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on a total disability rating for a single disability and additional disabilities rated at 60 percent or more due to his combined service-connected disabilities not meeting the required percentage.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities did not meet the required percentage (50%) as per the Combined Rating Table set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.25, and therefore SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) is not warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right ankle chronic strain and degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity residuals of shell fragment wounds, tinea pedis of the bilateral feet, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1760923
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1760923.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Whole decision: 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.
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