The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m), effective July 22, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood, rated at 70%, is separate and distinct from his service-connected cardiac disability (chronic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation status post radiofrequency ablation with chronic congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy), which established entitlement to SMC(l) for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation status post radiofrequency ablation with chronic congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, chronic
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26009260
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 A26009260.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder) and unspecified neurocognitive disorder and benign essential tremors (claimed as Parkinson's Disease).
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, chronic (claimed as a mental disorder with insomnia) is granted.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including memory loss and sleep impairment as this claim is no longer before the Board due to a grant of service connection in July 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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