The Veteran's right and left knee braces, used to treat service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, are granted an annual clothing allowance for 2017. The use of THERA-GESIC cream is denied as it does not cause irreparable damage to outer garments.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee braces were prescribed due to his service-connected diabetic neuropathy and tend to wear out or tear clothing, while the THERA-GESIC cream was used for a different condition (gout) and did not cause damage to clothes.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic neuropathy, gout
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18158137
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 18158137.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gout and bilateral foot conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's representative requested an informal conference, but it did not take place before the April 2021 rating decision was issued.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder, gout, multiple painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
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