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 assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19132238
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including cervical spine, chronic fatigue, and various nerve damages, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to in-service events.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
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