The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating in excess of 10 percent for deviated septum, as well as the appeal for dysthymic disorder (sleep disorder, excessive snoring). The appeal for left elbow degenerative arthritis was also dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement within one year of being notified of the November 2019 rating decision for deviated septum.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow degenerative arthritis, dysthymic disorder (sleep disorder, excessive snoring)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2026
- Citation
- A26003299
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 A26003299.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left elbow degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and eczema are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for right ankle degenerative joint disease with a rating of 30 percent.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective October 5, 2023.,Entitlement to DEA benefits was also granted effective October 5, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, left hip osteoarthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection of left elbow, right elbow, and right thumb degenerative arthritis to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing direct causation and aggravation by service-connected disabilities.
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.