The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is sufficient to grant special monthly compensation (SMC) based upon the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities caused significant functional limitations that required regular aid and attendance on a daily basis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease with spondylolisthesis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease with spondylolisthesis, acid reflux disease, rheumatoid arthritis, colon polyps
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19195045
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 19195045.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and systemic lupus erythematosus as there was no evidence of onset during active service or etiological relationship to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Denied
The Veteran was awarded service connection for allergic rhinitis based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, is not warranted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on chronic symptoms shown during service and continuity of those symptoms since service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was dismissed due to a untimely notice of disagreement. The left knee disorder claim is remanded for further action.
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