The Veteran has f. Example 1: Situation: Rating Decision bilateral SC blindness with LPO, and Involving SMC total SC hearing loss in the left ear for Total SC no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling, and Deafness in no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 50-percent disabling. One Ear and Bilateral Since the Veteran has LPO bilaterally, and total SC loss of hearing in Result: Blindness the left ear, entitlement to SMC is warranted under , and . Coded Conclusion: The appropriate SMC paragraph code is OB-2. The appropriate SMC coding is 37-37-21-00-0. g. Example 2: The Veteran has Situation: Rating Decision bilateral SC blindness with Involving SMC no light perception (NLP) in the left eye, and for Total SC visual acuity of 5/200 (1.5/60) in the right eye Deafness in total SC hearing loss in the left ear One Ear and no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling, and Bilateral no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 50-percent disabling. Blindness The Veteran is entitled to SMC under for the degree of bilateral Result: blindness alone, but an additional one-half step in the level of SMC (“m½”) is warranted, based on the degree of hearing loss, under the provisions of . Coded Conclusion: The appropriate SMC paragraph code is PB-1. The appropriate SMC coding is 20-20-21-00-0. A Veteran is entitled to an additional one-half step in the level of SMC under h. SMC for Bilateral if he/she has Blindness With Bilateral SC bilateral blindness with LPO or less Hearing Loss bilateral hearing loss, considered 10-or 20-percent disabling, and Considered 10 SC hearing loss in at least one ear. or 20-Percent Disabling If visual acuity in either of the eyes is better than LPO, entitlement to Note: the additional one-half step does not exist.
f. Example 1: Rating Decision Involving SMC for Total SC Deafness in One Ear and Bilateral Blindness Situation: The Veteran has bilateral SC blindness with LPO, and total SC hearing loss in the left ear no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling, and no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 50-percent disabling. Result: Since the Veteran has LPO bilaterally, and total SC loss of hearing in the left ear, entitlement to SMC is warranted under , and . Coded Conclusion: The appropriate SMC paragraph code is OB-2. The appropriate SMC coding is 37-37-21-00-0. g. Example 2: Rating Decision Involving SMC for Total SC Deafness in One Ear and Bilateral Blindness Situation: The Veteran has bilateral SC blindness with no light perception (NLP) in the left eye, and visual acuity of 5/200 (1.5/60) in the right eye total SC hearing loss in the left ear no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling, and no separate and distinct disability evaluated as 50-percent disabling. Result: The Veteran is entitled to SMC under for the degree of bilateral blindness alone, but an additional one-half step in the level of SMC (“m½”) is warranted, based on the degree of hearing loss, under the provisions of . Coded Conclusion: The appropriate SMC paragraph code is PB-1. The appropriate SMC coding is 20-20-21-00-0. h. SMC for Bilateral Blindness With Bilateral Hearing Loss Considered 10 or 20-Percent Disabling A Veteran is entitled to an additional one-half step in the level of SMC under if he/she has SC bilateral blindness with LPO or less bilateral hearing loss, considered 10-or 20-percent disabling, and SC hearing loss in at least one ear. Note: If visual acuity in either of the eyes is better than LPO, entitlement to the additional one-half step does not exist.
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