The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and spinal stenosis, have rendered him unable to meet most of his daily personal needs without regular aid and attendance from another individual. The Board granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to the Veteran's physical limitations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) with spinal stenosis, have rendered him unable to protect himself from daily environmental hazards without regular aid and assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Spinal Stenosis, Neurogenic Bladder, Radiculopathy Sciatic Nerve, Lower Left Extremity, Radiculopathy Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy Femoral Nerve, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Neurogenic Bowel, Left Ankle Sprain, Erectile Dysfunction (associated with DDD), Surgical Scar, Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20013402
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 20013402.
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 bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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