The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a need of regular aid and attendance, which the Board finds warrants special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions that cause significant functional impairments, including peripheral neuropathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, diabetic nephropathy causing weakness, ischemic heart disease, left knee arthritis, and other disabilities. These conditions result in a need for regular assistance from another person.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Diabetic nephropathy, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, Left knee traumatic arthritis, Peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, Type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction, Peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, History of perforated jejunum and sigmoid colon with abdominal adhesions and with liver laceration, Hepatitis C, Onychomycosis left big toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2022
- Citation
- 22017196
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 22017196.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities and the TDIU claim prior to July 12, 2011. The Veteran's disabilities alone did not render him unemployable at that time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for ischemic heart disease due to a failure by the AOJ to request SSA records, which were not available.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
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