The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include a disability rated as permanent and total, thus he does not meet the legal criteria for entitlement to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating is 100 percent but his individual service-connected disabilities are not rated as permanently and totally disabling under any of the specified conditions in VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease status post angioplasty with stent associated with diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease of the left lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, conjunctivitis, left eye, bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, otitis externa, healed perforation, right tympanic membrane, healed laceration scar, left forehead, herpes simplex, lower lip, erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower left extremity - ilio-inguinal nerve associated with diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower right extremity - ilio-inguinal nerve associated with diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower left extremity - external cutaneous nerve of thigh (previously noted as the sciatic nerve) associated with diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower right extremity - external cutaneous nerve of thigh (previously noted as the sciatic nerve) associated with diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2017
- Citation
- 1751928
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 1751928.
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.
- 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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