The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right elbow condition, right ankle condition, low back disability (lumbosacral degenerative joint disease), left knee disability, and left ankle disability have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no in-service incurrence of a right elbow injury. The current right elbow condition was diagnosed after service, and there is no credible evidence linking it to service.,Regarding the right ankle condition, the VA examiner noted that there is no chronicity of a nexus between the current disability and service. There were no complaints or findings related to the right ankle in service, and the Veteran did not seek treatment for this issue during his military service.,For the low back disability, the evidence does not show favorable ankylosis or forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with the 20 percent rating assigned and do not warrant a higher rating.,The left knee disability was also denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service, and the VA examiner found no chronicity of a nexus between the current disability and service. There were no complaints or findings related to the left knee in service, and the Veteran did not seek treatment for this issue during his military service.,The left ankle disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service, and the VA examiner found no chronicity of a nexus between the current disability and service. There were no complaints or findings related to the left ankle in service, and the Veteran did not seek treatment for this issue during his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Elbow Condition, Right Ankle Condition, Low Back Disability (Lumbosacral Degenerative Joint Disease), Left Knee Disability, Left Ankle Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26005196
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 A26005196.
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 Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
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