The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an increased level of SMC based on need for higher level of aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have any service-connected conditions that would qualify him for a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r).
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent right lower lobe atelectasis, Prostatectomy due to carcinoma of the prostate, Coronary artery disease, Chronic low back strain, Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, Left wrist and right shoulder degenerative joint disease, Hypertension, Degenerative joint disease of both knees, B-cell leukemia, Diverticulosis of the left colon, Hemorrhoids, Status post left inguinal hernia repair, Left foot scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19124367
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,084 · Granted: 20% (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 19124367.
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.
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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