The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation at the (l) and (o) rates from August 12, 2013, based on his service-connected upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis. The back scar claim was also granted an effective date of August 12, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected bilateral upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis alone from August 12, 2013, warranted the grant of SMC at the (l) rate. The back scar was part and parcel of a larger claim and was present prior to August 12, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis, back scar, left long finger rheumatoid arthritis, left thumb rheumatoid arthritis, right long finger rheumatoid arthritis, right thumb rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral ring and little finger rheumatoid arthritis, low back trauma with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left index finger rheumatoid arthritis, right index finger rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25038222
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left and right thumb rheumatoid arthritis, effective March 16, 2019, and also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both hands.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeals to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for a back scar and a stomach scar as new and material evidence has been received, but additional action is required due to an unaddressed hearing request.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a back scar. The claims for hearing loss, headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability prior to September 21, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent from that date. However, the Board granted a 20 percent rating for sciatica affecting both lower extremities starting on September 21, 2021.
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