The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sacroiliitis and multiple sclerosis with decreased sensation and ataxia in both upper extremities, do not meet the eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her blindness and anatomical loss of use of one or more extremities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated as 100% disabling but do not include blindness or anatomical loss of use of one or more extremities, which are required for the benefit sought.
- Claimed conditions
- sacroiliitis, multiple sclerosis with decreased sensation and ataxia, right upper extremity, decreased sensation and ataxia, left upper extremity, weakness and decreased range of motion, right hip and knee, due to multiple sclerosis, weakness and decreased sensation, right foot, due to multiple sclerosis, weakness, left hip, with degenerative arthritis left knee, decreased sensation, left foot, due to multiple sclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2005
- Citation
- 0507863
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0507863.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, specifically addressing whether there was aggravation during service and if the lumbar spondylosis, lumbar radiculopathy, sacroiliitis, and failed back surgery syndrome had onset in service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current back disability and her military service, specifically the in-service acute back pain.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability is restored to 40 percent effective April 1, 2025. The remaining issues of increased ratings are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including a back condition, sacroiliitis, and degenerative arthritis in various joints.
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