The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities leave him in need of regular aid and attendance, resulting in a grant of SMC based on this need.
The deciding factor: The evidence demonstrated that the Veteran required significant assistance with activities of daily living due to his right shoulder disability and major depressive disorder, leading to an equipoise situation which favored granting the claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder chronic spontaneous anterior dislocation with degenerative joint disease, major depressive disorder with psychotic features
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007200
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 21007200.
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 major depressive disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, anxiety disorder unspecified, and insomnia unspecified are related to events he experienced during service. The Board granted the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and alcohol use disorder, finding that both conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features was granted a 100 percent disability rating from April 24, 2014, due to total occupational and social impairment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.