The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, adjust prosthetic appliances, feed himself through coordination issues, attend to the wants of nature, or protect himself from hazards. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to July 30, 2019.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused him to require assistance with eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, ambulating, and protecting himself from hazards due to his poor balance and difficulty standing or walking.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20073803
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20073803.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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