The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to a lack of evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The deciding factor: The Board found no objective evidence establishing that the Veteran required aid and attendance or was housebound due to her service-connected disabilities, despite acknowledging some impairment from these conditions.

Claimed conditions

PTSD, fibromyalgia, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and lumbosacral strain, chronic neck pain secondary to anterior/inferior spur, corner of C5, secondary to remote trauma, with degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the cervical spine, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, residuals of head injury facial scar, trochanteric bursitis of the left hip, trochanteric bursitis of the right hip

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 2, 2025

Citation

25014385

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine