The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and major depressive disorder with PTSD caused a need for regular aid and attendance on a daily basis. The Board found that SMC based on this need was warranted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions resulted in functional impairments requiring care or assistance to dress himself, keep clean, attend to hygiene needs, and protect from environmental hazards.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Cervical Spine Disability, Right Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Major Depressive Disorder with PTSD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2024
- Citation
- 24034162
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 24034162.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including PTSD, IBS, cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, dyspnea, and fibromyalgia. The claim for bilateral pes planus was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The character of the appellant's uncharacterized discharge is not a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; to this extent only, the claim is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
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