The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including Stargardt's disease and anxiety disorder with depressive disorder. The SMC rate is set at 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).
The deciding factor: The Veteran requires assistance in daily activities such as cooking meals and managing medications due to visual impairment caused by his service-connected Stargardt's disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Stargardt's disease, anxiety disorder with depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- July 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22038411
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 22038411.
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 determined that the VA opinion in connection with the Veteran's claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease is inadequate and requires further development. The matter is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service, if so, whether it was aggravated by service, and whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension has aggravated his condition and whether his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam may have aggravated his hereditary Stargardt's disease.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, as the VA examination did not find a diagnosis of PTSD.,However, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress) is granted based on evidence showing it is related to his active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and prostate cancer have been granted increased ratings, effective November 8, 2023. The Veteran also received earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and Dependents' Educational Assistance.
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