The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, effective January 6, 2021.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran requires assistance with daily activities such as preparing meals, managing medications, and leaving his home, which would necessitate hospitalization or other residential institutional care if not for regular aid and attendance. This need is based on service-connected disabilities associated with TBI.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) associated with residual scar, Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, Obstructive Sleep Apnea associated with TBI, Residual scar, Tinnitus associated with TBI, Tension headaches associated with TBI
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25043009
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 28, 2019, for service connection for a neurocognitive disorder, generalized seizure disorder, and tinnitus, all associated with TBI.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD but granted separate ratings of 70 percent for residuals of TBI and 10 percent for tinnitus associated with TBI, effective from February 3, 2014, and May 2023 respectively. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for psychomotor epilepsy was also denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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