The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, as he requires assistance with dressing and preparing meals due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been found in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress himself and prepare meals, which are essential daily activities requiring assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) status post laminectomy L5, s/p laminectomy, discectomy, and fusion L4-L5, L5-S1, unspecified depressive disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic branch nerves that also includes that peroneal nerve associated with thoracolumbar DDD, right biceps tendon rupture s/p surgical repair, left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve associated with thoracolumbar DDD, left lower extremity involving the femoral nerves associated with thoracolumbar DDD, right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral branch nerves associated with thoracolumbar DDD, tinnitus, a painful scar on the left buttocks, hypertension, surgical scars s/p right shoulder surgery, surgical scars s/p laminectomy and fusion L4-L5, L5-S1, restless leg syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21075612
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 21075612.
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 remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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