The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity disabilities render him nearly so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected bilateral lower extremity disabilities necessitate his need for regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, undress, bathe himself, and attend to his bathroom needs.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder, peripheral arterial disease of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet, bilateral pes planus, bilateral foot cold injuries with degenerative joint disease, mild hallux valgus, and heel spurs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- September 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18137982
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 18137982.
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 vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
- Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection for bilateral pes planus and gynecomastia scar residuals, finding that the earliest possible effective dates are the dates of receipt of the claims.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for depressive disorder, effective August 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper and did not comply with applicable regulations.
- Denied
The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and anxiety were all denied as service connection was not established based on the evidence of record.,Bilateral pes planus was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.
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