The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs without regular personal assistance from others, nor did they result in an inability to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with cold injury residuals with arthritic changes, cold injury residuals with arthritic changes and onychomycosis of the right foot, cold injury residuals with arthritic changes and onychomycosis of the left foot, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with cold injury residuals with arthritic changes, cold injury residuals with arthritic changes of the left upper extremity, cold injury residuals with arthritic changes of the right upper extremity, bilateral hearing loss, left lower peripheral neuropathy associated with cold injury residuals, right lower peripheral neuropathy associated with cold injury residuals, tinnitus, right ear cold weather residuals, left ear cold weather residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172419
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 19172419.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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