The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, but he is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing one automobile or other conveyance due to his service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (50% for persistent depressive disorder) with additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more, qualifying him for SMC at the housebound rate. However, he is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left knee, Persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18111335
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 18111335.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing in the year of 2021, leading to a decision granting annual clothing allowances for both knee braces.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is found to have begun during service. Effective February 4, 2020, a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The effective date of the separate 20% rating for left lower radiculopathy remains January 14, 2021.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and GERD, effective December 30, 2021.
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