The Veteran's spastic dysphonia is rated at 60 percent effective November 23, 2010. The claim for SMC based on complete organic aphonia was denied as the evidence did not show a constant inability to communicate by speech.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected spastic dysphonia resulted in an inability to speak above a whisper, which approximates the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation under DC 6519. However, there was no evidence of a constant inability to communicate by speech, thus SMC based on complete organic aphonia could not be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- spastic dysphonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2018
- Citation
- 1823584
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1823584.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's sleep apnea and spastic dysphonia were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, and spastic dysphonia. The Board will consider these findings in their next decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a medical examination.
- Whole decision: 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.
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