The veteran has lost the use of his right hand and foot due to peripheral neuropathy, qualifying him for special monthly compensation. He is also eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment and specially adapted housing.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both hands and feet, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation and related benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Coronary artery disease, with ischemic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Diabetes mellitus, Coccydynia, Bilateral diabetic retinopathy, Impotency as a result of diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 2, 2007
- Citation
- 0706049
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 0706049.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his low back disability is being remanded due to the reduction in evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent effective May 31, 2014. The RO needs to provide updated VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of the disability.
- Denied
The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 3, 2011.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance travel expenses incurred on June 17, 2025 due to an emergency heart attack. The ambulance service was provided by a volunteer organization and later intercepted by a higher-tier EMT company.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent rating for service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on a need for aid and attendance.
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