The Veteran's incomplete loss of use of the right upper extremity associated with ALS is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating possible under Diagnostic Code 8512 for a minor extremity.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's right hand and arm are essentially useless due to progressive weakness and muscle atrophy caused by his ALS.
- Claimed conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Incomplete loss of use of the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2017
- Citation
- 1755871
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 1755871.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PLS, a variant of ALS, is granted as service connected. The Board found sufficient evidence to presume that PLS developed due to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability, loss of use of extremities, or other qualifying conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's ALS was granted service connection throughout the appeal period.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for ALS was denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 1, 2024.
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