The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation in excess of the 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) rate due to a lack of evidence showing anatomical loss or loss of use of both arms, both legs, one arm and one leg, or blindness without light perception in both eyes.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher special monthly compensation as he does not have the required anatomical losses or complications preventing natural action with prostheses.

Claimed conditions

aphasia, spastic dysarthria, and apraxia of speech status post cerebrovascular accident, status post myocardial infarct with status post coronary artery bypass graft, arteriosclerotic heart disease, congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy and heart block with automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) in place, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic sinusitis, right upper extremity muscle weakness, allergic rhinitis, right lower extremity muscle weakness, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), scar from endarterectomy, right-sided facial weakness

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 6, 2025

Citation

A25096578

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine