The Veteran is granted a higher rating for SMC under section 1114(o) and awarded two separate ratings of SMC based on loss of use of both feet due to service-connected peripheral neuropathy and need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding the loss of use of both feet due to peripheral neuropathy, resulted in his need for the aid and assistance of another person throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, bronchial asthma, hypertensive heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy with left atrial enlargement, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction (DM), spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, and degenerative arthritis changes (back disability), hypertension, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy of the bilateral eyes with early cataracts, diarrhea, stasis dermatitis, allergic rhinitis with posttraumatic septal deviation, facial scar, scars of the left thumb, skin condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21031010
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 21031010.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.
- 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.
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