The Veteran's appeal for increased special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as she is not entitled to the higher rate under section 1114(o). The Board found that her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right foot drop, are already accounted for in the current SMC rates.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher level of SMC as they overlap with existing disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Right foot drop, PTSD with major depressive disorder and unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26030665
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 A26030665.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that his peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings, and his right foot drop was not bilateral in nature.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in rating and examination, including a failure to consider all relevant evidence and provide an adequate VA examination for right foot drop.
- Granted
The Veteran's right foot drop is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease. The claims for residuals of frostbite, right hand and left hand are denied.
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