The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right tibia distal fracture, degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, and scars from lumbar spine fusion, render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate his need for aid and attendance due to physical impairments including musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, which are not related to any service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right tibia distal fracture, degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, scars, status post lumbar spine fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2022
- Citation
- A22021414
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 A22021414.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, but SMC based on loss of use or housebound status was denied.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran due to his service-connected disabilities that have resulted in the effective loss or permanent loss of use in both lower extremities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, IVDS and herniated disc but granted increased ratings of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves) and remanded service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle sprains were denied. However, the veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of August 1, 2017.
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