The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative lumbar arthritis and injuries to his lower extremities, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is unable to effectively ambulate independently without assistive devices. This meets the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions affect the functions of balance and propulsion, precluding independent locomotion.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative lumbar arthritis, injuries to lower extremities, sinusitis, degenerative disc disease in the thoracolumbar spine with strain, radiculopathy right upper extremity, strain with degenerative arthritis right knee, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis (right knee), radiculopathy right lower extremity, degenerative arthritis status post ACL and meniscus repair right knee, tinnitus, rhinitis, residual scarring right knee, residual scarring left knee, rheumatoid arthritis (left knee), radiculopathy left upper extremity, radiculopathy left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26009897
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 A26009897.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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