The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder disabilities, upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, elbow and wrist disabilities, hand/finger disabilities, hip and knee disabilities, ankle and foot disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss are all denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during or proximate to the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records do not document any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses for the claimed conditions. The August 2024 VA examinations did not show current disabilities for most of the conditions listed in the decision summary.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder tendonitis (tendinitis) with ankylosis, left shoulder tendonitis (tendinitis) with ankylosis, right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, right elbow tendonitis (tendinitis), left elbow tendonitis (tendinitis), left wrist sprain to include fracture with ankylosis and tendonitis (tendinitis), right hand or finger ankylosis, left hand or finger ankylosis, right hip sprain to include ankylosis with tendonitis (tendinitis), left hip strain to include ankylosis with tendonitis (tendinitis), left knee strain to include ankylosis with instability and tendonitis (tendinitis), right ankle sprain with tendonitis (tendinitis) and ankylosis, left ankle sprain with tendonitis (tendinitis) and ankylosis, right foot tendonitis (tendinitis), left foot tendonitis (tendinitis), right lower extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as sciatica), hypertension, left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26009595
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 A26009595.
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 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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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