The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as his helplessness was due to nonservice-connected disabilities such as stroke and brain cancer. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance for accrued benefits purposes is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran required assistance from service-connected conditions alone; it was attributed to nonservice-connected disabilities like stroke and brain cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with anxious distress, migraine and tension headaches, dyshidrotic eczema, residuals of tonsillectomy, residuals of hemorrhoidectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18157284
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 18157284.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a mental health condition and denied service connection for an eye condition. The claims for autoimmune limbic encephalitis with non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (NPLE) with GAD65 antibodies and dystonia and dystonic tremor were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 3, 2022, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress contributed substantially or materially to her death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
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