The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bowel incontinence was denied. He is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o), as he meets the criteria for need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, and also warrants a higher level of care (SMC-R(2)).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities render him in need of regular aid and assistance, warranting SMC-L. The need for higher-level care necessitates the additional award of SMC-R(1) and SMC-R(2).
- Claimed conditions
- bowel incontinence, bilateral above the knee amputations
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181655
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeals for a compensable evaluation for bladder incontinence and bowel incontinence have been withdrawn and dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bowel and urinary incontinence, both secondary to the appellant's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bowel incontinence and radiculopathies of various bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to a low back disability due to the lack of evidence showing current diagnoses.
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