The Veteran's right calcaneus osteomyelitis and left below the knee amputation have resulted in the need for specialized care, dressing changes, decreased balance, and assistance with daily activities. The Board finds that he is entitled to SMC based on aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care as a result of his right calcaneus osteomyelitis and left below the knee amputation, requiring specialized care and assistance with activities of daily living.
- Claimed conditions
- right calcaneus osteomyelitis, left below the knee amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1743198
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 1743198.
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.
- Denied
The appeals seeking an effective date prior to November 8, 2011, for the award of a TDIU rating and an effective date prior to November 8, 2011, for the award of basic eligibility to DEA are dismissed.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for left below the knee amputation is denied. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not satisfy the criteria for SMC at the (o) rate, the maximum rate authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p), or SMC at the rate intermediate between the rates authorized under (n) and (o) and SMC at the (k) rate.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for amputation of the right second toe from October 29, 2012, to November 14, 2012, is denied. The Veteran underwent a right below the knee amputation due to non-healing of his right second toe.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy, as well as awards of service connection for various peripheral neuropathies and amputations.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 15, 2014. The VA also awarded eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective the same date.,An earlier effective date of August 15, 2014, was granted for both the TDIU and DEA benefits due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about medication use and blood circulation issues that may have contributed to his amputations.
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