The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, foot disabilities, shoulder, ankle, hip, knee, and multi-joint arthritis. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with substance use disorder, severe.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of service connection for the listed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral shin splints, bilateral foot disabilities (to include bilateral plantar fasciitis), right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, multi-joint arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bronchitis with chronic cough, hypertension, migraine headaches, bilateral elbow disabilities (to include bilateral tendinitis), back disability (to include lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)), cervical spine disability (to include cervical strain), left shoulder disability (to include left shoulder impingement syndrome), left ankle disability (to include left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain), left hip disability (to include left hip tendinopathy), left knee disability (to include left knee strain), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (also claimed as acid reflux with nausea), dermatitis, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2026
- Citation
- A26002180
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26002180.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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