The Veteran passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran died prior to the Board making a decision on her service connection claims, as notified by the Social Security Administration.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, right elbow rheumatoid arthritis, right wrist rheumatoid arthritis, right hand rheumatoid arthritis, right hip rheumatoid arthritis, right knee rheumatoid arthritis, right ankle rheumatoid arthritis, right foot rheumatoid arthritis, left shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, left elbow rheumatoid arthritis, left wrist rheumatoid arthritis, left hand rheumatoid arthritis, left hip rheumatoid arthritis, left knee rheumatoid arthritis, left ankle rheumatoid arthritis, left foot rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26001654
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 A26001654.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or as a result of a disease or injury in active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including lupus and Sjogren's syndrome, were granted. The rating for Raynaud's disease was restored to a lower level, and the effective dates for TDIU and DEA were established.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for right knee rheumatoid arthritis and increased ratings for related conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased rating for Raynaud's disease and service connection for Sjogren's syndrome as the appellant withdrew her appeal prior to a decision.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.