The Veteran's left-hand disability (status post ulnar nerve transection) does not render her in need of regular aid and attendance due to the need for care or assistance on a regular basis to protect her from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment. The Board finds that she is not entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left-hand disability alone does not cause her to require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect her from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment, as evidenced by her nonservice-connected disabilities (legal blindness, deafness, and spinal issues).
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of use of the left hand (status post ulnar nerve transection)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19103834
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (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 19103834.
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