The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is granted effective August 31, 2010. The claim to increase his nonservice-connected pension due to unreimbursed medical expenses in 2011 and 2012 is denied because he did not submit his claim within the same or next calendar year from when the expenses were incurred.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was established based on evidence showing he required assistance with daily activities due to physical disabilities, including back pain, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic ischemic heart disease. The medical expense claim was denied because it was not submitted within the same or next calendar year from when the expenses were incurred.
- Claimed conditions
- Back pain, Peripheral vascular disease, Chronic ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18157808
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 18157808.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no competent evidence linking any principal or contributory cause of his death to his service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in him needing regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for urinary incontinence, back pain, and bilateral foot pain due to potential service connection issues. The AOJ is required to provide a VA examination and obtain an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective December 30, 1995. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted as of that date.
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.