The veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the lower extremities and a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a certificate of eligibility for a special home adaption grant were denied due to lack of evidence showing anatomical loss or loss of use of both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of the lower extremities as there is no effective function remaining other than what would be equally served by an amputation with a suitable prosthetic appliance.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, major depressive disorder, residuals of tonsillitis, nicotine dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2006
- Citation
- 0631846
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 0631846.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
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- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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