The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder alone has precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he also has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more disabling. Therefore, the Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depressive disorder alone meets the requirement of being rated as total for purposes of SMC under section 1114(s), and he has other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, satisfying the 'rated as total' element of section 1114(s).
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21027871
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 21027871.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
- Denied
The Veteran is found not competent to handle the disbursement of VA funds, and his appeal is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to being housebound is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as total, and his disabilities are not separate and distinct from the maximum combined rating of 100 percent.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The evidence is at least in balance regarding whether his current conditions are related to his military service.
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