The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and upper extremity disabilities caused an inability to turn his head without extreme pain, numbness and tingling in his hands and fingers, affecting his ability to dress, groom, keep himself clean or attend to the wants of nature.
- Claimed conditions
- Spinal stenosis C7, Herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 13, 2018
- Citation
- 1821993
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 1821993.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions and consider evidence not previously considered.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and difficulty in understanding complex commands. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits, finding that the liberalizing legislation adding colon cancer to the list of presumptive diseases did not affect the effective date as it was granted on March 26, 2002.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine and hypertension are denied as there is no evidence showing an increase in disability or a need for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.
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