The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria is dismissed as moot.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform activities of daily living without regular aid and assistance, meeting the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity associated with diabetes, tinnitus, mild acne (face, chest, and back), neuropathy of the right upper extremity associated with diabetes, neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with diabetes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2021
- Citation
- A21016334
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 A21016334.
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 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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