The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status or need for aid and attendance due to insufficient evidence showing he requires regular assistance or is substantially confined by his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The weight of the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities render him incapable of performing daily activities or require regular assistance, nor does it demonstrate substantial confinement to his home due to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), atopic dermatitis, residuals of a left ankle gunshot wound, hearing loss, hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065659
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD during a Board hearing, and the appeal is therefore dismissed.
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