The Veteran's back brace, which is covered in fabric and does not cause irreparable damage to clothing, was denied a clothing allowance for 2014 due to the lack of loss of use of a hand or foot.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s back brace did not qualify as a device that tends to wear or tear clothing based on VA's National Prosthetic Guidance and the designee's determination.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Brace
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2018
- Citation
- 18143943
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 18143943.
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: Granted
The Veteran's back brace caused wear and tear to his shirts, which is sufficient evidence for a clothing allowance in 2020.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing relevant documents from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The AOJ needs to reconstruct the record and associate all pertinent records with the electronic claims file.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's clothing allowance claims for use of a back brace, bilateral ankle braces, right knee brace, shoe inserts (orthotics), and topical cream due to insufficient evidence regarding the types of devices used and their impact on clothing. The AOJ is instructed to seek clarification from the Veteran and obtain relevant documentation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request for clothing allowances based on the use of back and left knee braces is remanded due to missing VA treatment records and prosthetic records.
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