The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his musculoskeletal conditions, result in a factual need for regular aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with painful motion, left knee osteoarthritis with painful motion, right elbow epicondylitis with painful motion of the elbow, right elbow epicondylitis with painful motion of the forearm, left elbow epicondylitis, lumbosacral sprain/strain, left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049205
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis with shin splints, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension. The Board also remanded claims for service connection for a left hip disorder and residuals of tuberculosis exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and major depressive disorder (MDD), but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a right shoulder disability.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings and service connection for various conditions, including supraventricular arrhythmia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, erectile dysfunction, left groin scar, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, left elbow epicondylitis, and multiple concussions.
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