The Veteran's spouse is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on her need for aid and attendance due to multiple disabling conditions that require regular assistance from another person.
The deciding factor: The Board found a factual need for the regular aid or attendance of another person due to the Veteran's spouse's physical limitations related to her medical conditions, including mobility issues, incontinence, and incapacity requiring care on a regular basis to protect against daily environmental hazards.
- Claimed conditions
- unstable sacroiliac joint, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with right lower extremity radiculopathy and urinary retention, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, chronic Lyme's disease with neurological manifestations
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18153615
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 18153615.
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 left leg disability and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are both granted service connection. The left leg disability is not granted, while the cervical spine issue is.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU must be remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from December 2018 onwards are needed, as well as medical opinions regarding the etiology of her left knee disability, cervical spine disability, sleep disorder, and whether her sleep disorder is aggravated by her service-connected bipolar disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.