The Veteran was granted SMC based on aid and attendance, but denied SMC based on housebound status. The Veteran's specially adapted housing claim was also granted, while his claims for a special home adaptation grant and an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance were denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which precluded locomotion without assistive devices. However, he did not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status as he was not permanently confined to his place of residence. The denial of the special home adaptation grant and automobile allowance claims were based on a lack of evidence supporting these specific needs.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25019723
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