The Veteran is granted SMC at the aid and attendance rate due to his blindness, which requires regular assistance from a spouse.,Service connection for loss of use of the left elbow is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetic nephropathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's blindness in both eyes necessitates regular aid and attendance. The loss of use of the left elbow is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetic nephropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetic Nephropathy, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy with Cataracts, Coronary Artery Disease, Right and Left Lower Peripheral Vascular Disease, Right and Left Lower Leg Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with DM, Cysts of the Left Thyroid
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 30, 2017
- Citation
- 1725246
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 1725246.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Erectile Dysfunction, and Bladder Cancer in remission. Effective dates have been set for these awards as of July 14, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 2, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities including PTSD and other conditions. The decision also noted that the Veteran is currently self-employed as a truck driver.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disability and hypertension due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain addendum medical opinions regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC in excess of SMC(n) based on his service-connected conditions and additional disabilities, as well as his need for aid and attendance. The appeal was dismissed.
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