The Veteran is granted an increase in SMC to the intermediate rate between subsections (m) and (n), effective October 15, 2021, due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder rated at 100 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was increased to 100 percent disabling from October 15, 2021, resulting in a combined rating of 50 percent for additional disabilities (left ankle disability, tinnitus, benign prostate hypertrophy, and COPD) which warranted an intermediate rate under 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n).
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Peripheral neuropathy (right upper extremity), Peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), Peripheral neuropathy (right lower extremity), Peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), Left ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26006789
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 A26006789.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 13, 2018, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran also meets the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU prior to June 1, 2023.
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