The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so incapable of performing the activities of daily living that he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathies, and other conditions, render him unable to perform activities of daily living such as feeding himself, attending to hygiene needs, or protecting himself from hazards in his environment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depression, Prostate Cancer, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Bilateral Pes Planus, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Chronic Erosive Gastritis, Left Lower Extremity Anterior Crural Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Anterior Crural Nerve, Left Achilles Tendonitis, Right Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Diabetic Retinopathy, Bilateral Knee Instability, Left Inguinal Hernia Repair, Tinnitus, Painful Scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 8, 2024
- Citation
- A24044956
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 A24044956.
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 Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Panic Disorder due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
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