The veteran's service-connected cold injuries have resulted in the loss of use of his feet. He is also entitled to SMC for this condition and financial assistance for adaptive equipment or automobile purchase. His TDIU claim is granted due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the veteran's service-connected cold injuries were the primary cause of his loss of use of both feet, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of use of both legs below the knee, cellulitis of the right leg, osteomyelitis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2008
- Citation
- 0823185
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 0823185.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cellulitis of the right leg and a vascular disability of the lower extremities, to include varicose veins, as secondary to cellulitis of the right leg due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cellulitis of the right leg, finding no evidence linking it to service or ionizing radiation exposure.,Service connection was also denied for loss of teeth, with the examiner concluding that the Veteran's current condition is due to periodontal disease rather than any in-service exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cellulitis of the right leg and loss of teeth due to exposure to ionizing radiation. Additional development is required, including obtaining private medical records from Dr. RL and dental records from a dentist who treated the Veteran for his teeth issues. The VA will also obtain all relevant treatment records prior to May 2008 and after January 2014. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran has chronic osteomyelitis or osteoradionecrosis of the maxilla or mandible, or loss of teeth due to radiation exposure. The Veteran's cellulitis of the right leg claim will also require a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for carbuncle/abscess in the groin area and testicles, as well as cellulitis of the right leg, finding no current diagnosis or chronic residuals from the in-service treatments.
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