The Board remands the claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining a medical opinion.
The deciding factor: A medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone result in loss or loss of use of his extremities, which would warrant the grant of specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Diabetic nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve group associated with diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve group associated with diabetes mellitus type II to include erectile dysfunction, Residual painful scar, status post CAGB associated with ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25028098
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and diabetes, and these claims are dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to inadequate medical opinions and a Stegall violation.
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