The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is granted as of February 15, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran has been in need of regular care due to his service-connected disabilities since at least 2015.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran needed assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as preparing meals, taking medication, ambulation, bathing, dressing, and tending to hygiene needs due to his service-connected disabilities. Without his spouse's help, he was at risk of forgetting to take his medication or getting lost.
- Claimed conditions
- Dementia, Service-connected disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24056006
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 A24056006.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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.
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- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional VR&E services, other than employment services, to include additional education and training benefits. The decision found that his current goal of obtaining a bachelor's degree was not reasonably necessary to achieve suitable employment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive impairment or dementia was rated at 50 percent from July 11, 2005 to March 4, 2021. From March 4, 2021, the Veteran's condition was rated at 100 percent.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and exposures at Camp LeJeune contributed to his cause of death. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion addressing these issues.
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