The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for aid and assistance on a regular basis to feed himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and protect him from the hazards or dangers inherent in his daily environment. As such, the claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the inability to dress and feed himself due to neck and back disabilities, requiring constant assistance with daily living activities.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, right and left extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, degenerative disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral wrist scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2019
- Citation
- A19003784
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,432 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19003784.
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 claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
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