The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not by themselves cause him to require aid and assistance in accomplishing the activities of daily living and render him unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be in need of regular aid and assistance due to lower extremity disabilities and vertigo which are not service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and implanted cardiac pacemaker, migraine headaches, right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, respiratory disability, stasis dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, erectile dysfunction with prostate cancer, scar of the left upper chest
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23009260
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 23009260.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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