The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the 'L' rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to the Veteran's service-connected left knee replacement disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran required care or assistance on a regular basis for activities of daily living, including dressing, attending to personal hygiene needs, and preventing falls/injury. The Board found this sufficient to meet the criteria for SMC at the 'L' rate.
- Claimed conditions
- status post left knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26015219
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 A26015219.
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 is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (r)(2) level due to his service-connected disabilities requiring a higher level of care.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's status post right and left knee replacements, as well as a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to conflicting VA examination findings and a need for further development.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.