The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, nor does it demonstrate he is permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain, Bilateral Knee Disabilities, Right Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Thickness Tear with Impaction Subchondral Fracture, Radiculopathy of the Bilateral Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20075009
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depression.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for migraines and remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include an anxiety disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence did not support a link between any diagnosed condition and her military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and opiate use disorder, but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.