The Veteran's heart disability is granted a 100 percent rating prior to February 3, 2015. The claim for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy in all four extremities is denied. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's heart disability was found to meet criteria for a 100 percent rating due to chronic congestive heart failure since 2008, resulting in more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year. The claim for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy is denied as hypertension does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, Hypertension, Diabetic neuropathy in right upper extremity, Diabetic neuropathy in left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20080898
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,454 · Granted: 23% (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 20080898.
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 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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