The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that his nonservice-connected conditions (MS, ESRD) require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.
The deciding factor: Service connection for MS and ESRD was not established, so they do not qualify as service-connected disabilities for SMC purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis (MS), end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19170360
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 19170360.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed alternatively as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, due to an inadequate VA examiner's opinion and a failure to fulfill the duty to assist in obtaining relevant medical records.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that his MS had onset during his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and multiple sclerosis (MS) based on the Veteran's in-service environmental exposures.
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