The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, notably his TBI residuals, have manifested in loss of use of both feet. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether he meets the criteria for an automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has lost the use of his both feet due to service-connected TBI residuals, which are equivalent to someone with amputation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol dependence in full sustained remission, Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with headaches, nausea, and Parkinsonism syndrome, Residuals of tonsillectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1740935
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 1740935.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for residuals of tonsillectomy and resection of benign vocal cord lesions, based on newly submitted relevant service department records.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for otitis media and residuals of tonsillectomy, as there was no evidence of continuous suppurative process or aural polyps for otitis media, and no link to hoarseness or other symptoms for the tonsillectomy.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the residuals of left neck radical dissection, nerve damage in the left neck area, and residuals of surgery in the left shoulder area do not warrant evaluations higher than those currently assigned. The claim for a compensable evaluation for tonsillectomy was also denied. Sleep apnea is rated at 30 percent since service discharge.
- Denied
The veteran had a 100% disability rating for bilateral deafness and residuals of tonsillectomy. The claim is denied as the appellant cannot establish hypothetical entitlement to a total disability rating for at least 10 years prior to death.
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