The Veteran is granted SMC at the maximum rate (SMC(r)(1)) due to service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of all extremities and need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in anatomical loss or loss of use of four extremities, qualifying him for SMC(p) at the maximum rate. His need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions also qualifies him for SMC(r)(1).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disk disease (lumbosacral spine), Degenerative disk disease (cervical spine), Radiculopathy of right upper extremity, Brachial plexus stretch with radiculopathy of left upper extremity, Radiculopathy of left lower extremity, Radiculopathy of right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1821727
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 1821727.
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 Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted service connection effective October 25, 2018.,PTSD was also granted service connection effective July 10, 2007. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date for PTSD, but this was denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in the grant of SMC at the A&A rate. The question of entitlement to SMC on account of being housebound is moot due to the grant of SMC based on A&A.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were primarily manifested by intermittent pain and moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, but denied ratings in excess of 20 percent.
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