The Veteran's claim for clothing allowances based on the use of ankle braces and shoe inserts, as well as topical medications, has been denied due to lack of qualifying appliances/devices that cause wear or tear to an article of clothing. The Veteran's ankle braces are considered related to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran's ankle braces and orthotic shoe inserts do not qualify as a device that tends to wear or tear clothing, based on VA guidelines for the clothing allowance benefit.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of shell fragment wounds to both lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2018
- Citation
- 1817774
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 1817774.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities on a direct basis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's claim for beneficiary travel benefits for ambulance transportation to the Iowa City VAMC on November 15, 2019. The decision was based on the evidence showing that the Veteran had an emergent condition and was transported from his home to a non-VA emergency room and then to the VA Medical Center in Iowa City.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the period of January 12, 2012 to August 9, 2012.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both arms and legs, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The appeal for service connection for hypertension is remanded.
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