The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The Board found that the Veteran does not have an anatomical loss, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, is not permanently bedridden due to a service-connected disability, nor is he so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The evidence does not indicate that the Veteran is unable to keep himself clean, needs assistance with activities of daily living, or requires care due to a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine stenosis, neuropathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- October 22, 2019
- Citation
- A19002188
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 Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for insomnia.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, resulting in their dismissal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and macular degeneration, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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