The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities alone do not necessitate regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to dress himself, keep himself clean, use orthopedic appliances, attend to personal hygiene, or protect himself from daily hazards due solely to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder with depression, Degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution, Hypertrophic gastritis, Degenerative changes, left hip associated with degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution, Degenerative changes, right hip associated with degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution, Strain, left knee associated with degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution, Strain, right knee associated with degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution, Degenerative disc disease, cervical spine, Erectile dysfunction associated with degenerative disc disease with radiculitis, left L4-5 distribution
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19132238
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,036 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19132238.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and spinal fusion, as well as for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to incidents during active duty.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to address the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left shoulder strain, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities were all denied ratings in excess of their current assigned ratings.
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