The Board has determined that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including acute myeloid leukemia, spinal stenosis, lumbar radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, and ulcerative colitis. As a result, SMC based on aid and attendance for accrued benefits purposes has been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance was established through the appellant's testimony and medical records indicating his severe disability and inability to care for himself during chemotherapy treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute myeloid leukemia, Spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine (secondary to degenerative disc disease), Lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, Right knee osteoarthritis, Ulcerative colitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19192480
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 19192480.
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 Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis on the right and left foot, left and right ankle strain, left and right knee osteoarthritis, and left and right hip strain, all secondary to service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities with weight gain/obesity as an intermediate step.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right knee osteoarthritis, and a TDIU prior to January 7, 2019.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, but not in excess thereof, prior to April 9, 2012 for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied evaluations in excess of 20 percent from that date. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis were also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied compensation benefits for prostate biopsy and colonoscopy residuals, as well as service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left elbow arthritis, right elbow arthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.
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