The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression and multiple amputations, have rendered him unable to use his arms at or above the elbow. As a result, he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has loss of use of both upper extremities due to service-connected disabilities, specifically an above-elbow left arm amputation and right hand disability, which precludes normal use without assistance.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with depression, Amputation above the left elbow and below the level of deltoid insertion, Bilateral eye disability, Neurapraxia of the right medial, ulnar, and radial nerves, Residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) manifested by open comminuted fracture of the right humerus with myositis ossificans and scars, Diabetic neuropathy, Residuals of SFW manifested by right thigh scar, Residuals of SFW manifested by left supraclavicular fossa scar, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Residuals of SFW manifested by depressed posterior scar of the left calf, Limitation of motion of the right shoulder, Limitation of motion of the left shoulder, Residuals of SFW manifested by right leg scars, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders and right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1146471
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 1146471.
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 due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of development related to Agent Orange exposure and solvent/asbestos exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and dismissed the claim for a special home adaptation grant as moot.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 10, 2022 for hypertension and July 25, 2023 for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's conditions were found to have manifested no later than the dates specified in their respective effective dates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring clarification on whether the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is early-onset and if it is related to Agent Orange exposure during service.
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