The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular A&A was denied by the RO, and he appealed. The Board found that service connection is not in effect for a disability causing anatomical loss or use of both feet, one hand and one foot, or blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity. Additionally, there is no evidence showing the Veteran was bedridden solely due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date remains January 10, 2023.
The deciding factor: The criteria for SMC based on need for regular A&A were not met as the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause him to be in need of such assistance and he was not bedridden due solely to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), Headache disorder, Erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26002605
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 A26002605.
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
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