The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or at the housebound rate, as his service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not consistently reflect that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance throughout the period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Left shoulder rotator cuff tear and tendinopathy with degenerative arthritis, Right shoulder degenerative joint disease associated with left rotator cuff tear and tendinopathy with degenerative arthritis, Right shoulder degenerative joint disease, Osteoarthritis of the hips, Type 2 diabetes, Anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25034909
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), as secondary to the Veteran's anxiety and assigned a 70 percent rating from April 29, 2025. The Board also granted an initial 30 percent rating prior to that date.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, while remanding claims for depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, agitation, and sleep issues, due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance/alcohol use disorders, due to inadequate VA examination and missing Vet Center records.
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