The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar disability necessitated the need for regular aid and attendance, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar disability alone required full-time care due to significant functional impairment affecting his ability to perform daily activities.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19175013
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 19175013.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine (neck) disability, left shoulder disability, and migraines are granted service connection. The thoracolumbar and bilateral elbow disabilities are remanded for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar disability, as well as entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. §1318, for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a thoracolumbar disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claim by his authorized representative.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to incomplete records. The thoracolumbar disability claim is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated during service.
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