The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and knee conditions, caused him to need regular aid and attendance. The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in severe impairment that necessitated regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean, attend to personal hygiene needs, and perform daily activities like bathing and dressing.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder not otherwise specified, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23026040
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 23026040.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which may include depression or depressive disorder not otherwise specified.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right knee scar. The RO must attempt to obtain all available private treatment records from the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left (non-dominant) shoulder, right knee, and left knee are being remanded due to a failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded as it was denied in the most recent rating decision without an SSOC having been issued.
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