The Board denied VA payment for a powered mobility device, to include a motorized wheelchair, as the Veteran's medical records showed he could achieve adequate functional mobility without such devices through standard medical or rehabilitative treatments.
The deciding factor: The February and March 2015 VA evaluations determined that the Veteran did not qualify for a powered mobility device based on his demonstrated independent or modified independent (use of durable medical equipment) mobility, and potential to maintain current mobility status with conventional interventions.
- Claimed conditions
- right and left upper extremity median neuropathy, right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, type II diabetes mellitus, voiding dysfunction associated with diabetes, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left forearm sell fragment wound scar, erectile dysfunction, retinopathy, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18135003
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18135003.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: 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.
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