The Veteran's claim for higher levels of SMC is granted on an accrued benefits basis due to his service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and coronary artery disease.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had effective functioning remaining other than what would be equally well served by amputation with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance, meeting the criteria for SMC at the 'o' rate.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder, coronary artery disease, Parkinson's disease with diminished reflexes, tremors, and muscle rigidity right upper extremity, balance impairment associated with Parkinson's disease, diminished reflexes, tremors and muscle rigidity left upper extremity associated with Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, constipation associated with Parkinson's disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21030294
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 21030294.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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