The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate (SMC) from August 3, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a single disability rated as total and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more from August 3, 2018, qualifying him for SMC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disabilities, major depressive disorder, status post left shoulder surgery, right shoulder strain associated with status post left shoulder surgery, chondromalacia patella, left knee and medial collateral ligament repair with degenerative joint disease, residual surgical scars, status post left shoulder surgery, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26015427
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 A26015427.
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 Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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