The Board has granted a higher level of SMC at the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) for the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, finding that they require a 'higher level of care' and necessitate nursing home care without regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals require a higher level of care than is required to establish entitlement to the regular aid and attendance allowance, necessitating nursing home care in his absence.
- Claimed conditions
- spastic paralysis of the bilateral lower extremities, skull loss, spastic paralysis of the right pelvic girdle muscle group, spastic paralysis of the bilateral upper extremities, neurogenic bladder, facial nerve paralysis, knee scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 18, 2026
- Citation
- A26014911
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 A26014911.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and related disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, have caused loss of use in both hands and need for aid and attendance due to his lower extremity disability, kidney disease, and neurogenic bladder. The Board has granted SMC based on these findings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a neurocognitive disorder, depression, and anxiety), benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, obstructive sleep apnea, and balance issues due to potential errors in the decision-making process.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for PTSD, neck scars, quadriplegia, bladder and bowel issues have all been dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2023, are not warranted as the issues were not reasonably raised before that date.
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