The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting SMC at the aid and attendance rate. As this is a greater benefit than SMC on account of being housebound, his claim for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to perform daily activities without assistance from another person.
- Claimed conditions
- left ventricular hypertrophy associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) with onychomycosis, peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity associated with DM with onychomycosis, peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity associated with DM with onychomycosis, DM with onychomycosis, multilevel degenerative disc disease (DDD) with joint space narrowing and degenerative anterolisthesis of the thoracolumbar spine, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with DM with onychomycosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- August 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18125625
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 18125625.
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 hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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