The Veteran's application for special monthly compensation at the (r)(1) rate was denied as he did not meet the criteria for this level of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities and need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have anatomical loss or use of both feet, hands, legs, arms, or eyes that would qualify him for SMC at the (r)(1) rate. He also did not meet the requirement of having two or more of the rates provided in subsections (l) through (n).
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with traumatic brain injury, sleep apnea to include asthma, posttraumatic headaches, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26002441
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26002441.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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