The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC for aid and attendance and/or housebound benefits, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance from another person.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that while the Veteran was legally blind in one eye, he had sufficient vision to perform daily activities without requiring constant assistance. He could dress himself, feed himself, bathe, manage his medications, and leave his house with supervision.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral conjunctivitis with enucleation (removal of) his right eye, central corneal opacity of the left eye, several residual scars of the left arm, left side, left leg, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18105967
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 18105967.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
- 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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