The Veteran's request for additional Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ due to her service-connected vaginal condition was denied as a matter of law because she is already in receipt of SMC for anatomical loss or loss of use of the uterus.
The deciding factor: The statute limits the number of awards of SMC(k) to one per veteran, regardless of the number of creative organs affected.
- Claimed conditions
- dyspareunia, vaginal fissure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2023
- Citation
- 23041949
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23041949.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for gynecological disorders, including endometrial ovarian cysts, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia is granted. The effective date is set at June 5, 2019.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee tendonitis, and polycystic ovary syndrome with irregular periods (previously granted but appeal dismissed), as well as asthma, bronchitis, atypical squamous cells, and dyspareunia.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dyspareunia, sexual aversion disorder, and vaginismus but granted service connection for urinary incontinence as a result of the aggravation of dyspareunia.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability and dyspareunia was granted, but the claim for a compensable rating for FSAD was denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.