The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including a right foot disability. The Board grants SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, particularly those affecting mobility such as the right foot disability, necessitate the need for regular aid and assistance from another person.
- Claimed conditions
- heart condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral pes planus, right ankle disability, neck disability, back disability, various bilateral knee disabilities, left hip disability, various scars, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26027185
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 A26027185.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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