The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and other conditions. The effective date of this decision is August 28, 2023.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depression alone rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance such that he would be entitled to SMC at the maximum rate authorized under section 1114(o). Additionally, his other service-connected disabilities also required regular aid and attendance. The criteria for SMC at the 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(1) rate are met.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder, Right Upper Extremity Radiculopathy, Lumbar Spine Herniated Disc, Left Upper Extremity Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Cervical Spine Disability, Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction, Keloid Scars, Bladder Dysfunction, Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability, Hypertension, Erectile Dysfunction, Costochondritis, Sinusitis, Anemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23047342
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 23047342.
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 service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
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