The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of both lower extremities and incontinence issues. The decision also grants aid and attendance benefits due to the need for regular assistance with daily activities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's condition meets the criteria for SMC (o) as he has lost use of both legs and suffers from incontinence, which is considered helplessness under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of use of both lower extremities, Bowel and bladder incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- September 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18138349
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 18138349.
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 Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on his inability to perform an activity of daily living, specifically dressing independently. The Board also finds that participation in the PCAFC is in the Veteran's best interest and remands the case to obtain a clinical determination from CEAT.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, bowel and bladder incontinence, respiratory disability, loss of balance and incoordination, foot pain, loss of hair to the lower extremities, and chills.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a higher rating of 50 percent for his lumbar spine disability, service connection for bowel and bladder incontinence as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, TDIU from May 11, 2011, to May 10, 2012, but SMC at the housebound rate was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for further development to determine if the Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ or extremity, and to consider additional functional impairments in relation to the claim.
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