The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to lack of evidence showing she is in need of regular aid and assistance, as her disabilities do not meet the criteria for such need.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a service-connected traumatic brain injury that would require higher level care or regular aid and attendance. Her disabilities are primarily related to memory loss, left eye depth perception issues, upper extremity weakness, and left foot drop, which do not necessitate the need for regular aid and assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Scar from Hashimoto's thyroiditis with total thyroidectomy associated with residual hypothyroidism, Migraine headaches, Painful scars on the scalp from bilateral craniotomies for vascular repair associated with Moyamoya disease post-surgery, Hypothyroidism from Hashimoto's thyroiditis post-total thyroidectomy with residual hypothyroidism, Compression fracture of the T12 thoracic spine, Moyamoya disease post-surgery associated with hypothyroidism from Hashimoto's thyroiditis post-total thyroidectomy with residual hypothyroidism
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2026
- Citation
- A26022328
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 A26022328.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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