The Veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disability most likely contributed to his loss of use of his feet, which meets the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine condition most likely contributed to his loss of use of both legs or feet, including hammertoes and heloma, due to generalized lower extremity motor conditions unrelated to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the right hip, degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, left lower extremity varicose veins, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, tendonitis of the left shoulder, tinnitus, mild paralysis of the left eye rectus muscle, bilateral hearing loss, malaria, residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy, degenerative arthritis of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2016
- Citation
- 1604928
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 1604928.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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