The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1), subject to the law and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity disabilities, in addition to his Parkinson's disease, entitles him to SMC at the (r)(1) rate.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Right lower extremity balance impairment, bradykinesia, tremor, and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease with right upper extremity bradykinesia, tremor, and muscle rigidity, Left upper extremity bradykinesia, tremor, and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease, Left lower extremity balance impairment, bradykinesia, tremor, and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease, Difficulty chewing or swallowing associated with Parkinson's disease, Speech changes, loss of automatic movements on the left and right side, loss of sense of smell, constipation, stooped posture on the left and right side, each associated with Parkinson's disease, Migraine headaches, Erectile dysfunction

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 18, 2025

Citation

A25099935

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