The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher level due to his need for regular aid and attendance by another person.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has anatomical loss of the right foot, but no anatomical loss or use of the left foot. His LLE is not permanently bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Right Below-the-Knee Amputation (BKA), Hypertension, Peripheral Vascular Disease of the Right Foot with Foot Ulcer, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Foot associated with DM, Chondromalacia of the Right Patella, Chondromalacia of the Left Patella, Diabetic Retinopathy with Severe Cataracts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 8, 2015
- Citation
- 1551402
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 1551402.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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