The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder II, and alcohol abuse disorder, are not service-connected as they did not onset during service or due to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's low back pain is not service-connected as it did not onset during service or due to a service-connected condition. The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there were no secondary service connection issues addressed.,The Veteran's right knee disorder, which includes meniscal tear with joint osteoarthritis and instability, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: Service records do not show any complaints, symptoms, evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment for psychiatric disorders during active service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to childhood trauma and INACDUTRA service rather than military service.,The evidence does not support an in-service injury that caused the Veteran's low back pain and associated radiculopathy. There is no medical opinion linking these conditions to his period of active service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's right knee disorder and his military service. The claim for secondary service connection was not addressed.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Back disorder, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2026
- Citation
- A26003210
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 A26003210.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.
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