The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities or blindness.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while disabling, do not result in the loss of use of either upper or lower extremities as defined by VA regulations. Additionally, his conditions do not meet the criteria for blindness or contractures resulting from burns that would qualify him for specially adapted housing benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral Vascular Disease with Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Left Extremity, Peripheral Vascular Disease with Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Right Extremity, Chronic Fatigue with Depression and Dysthymia, Diabetic Enteropathy, Hypertension, Diabetes Type II, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper Left Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper Right Extremity, Trigeminal Neuropathy of the Face and Scalp, Bilateral Cataracts, Erectile Dysfunction, Onychomycosis of the Bilateral Feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 7, 2013
- Citation
- 1325034
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 1325034.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.