The Board has denied service connection for right knee strain, left ankle strain, and right hip muscle strain (right hip strain) as the evidence does not establish that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for left knee strain, right shin splints, left shin splints, right ankle strain, lumbar strain, and acquired psychiatric disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence does not establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Strain, Left Ankle Strain, Right Hip Muscle Strain (Right Hip Strain), Left Knee Strain, Right Shin Splints, Left Shin Splints, Right Ankle Strain, Lumbar Strain, Acquired Psychiatric Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011772
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 A26011772.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as shin splints, were granted increased ratings. The Veteran also received special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from October 25, 2017 to March 11, 2024.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 10% to 30%, effective July 1, 2025, finding that the reduction was improper and constituted a de facto severance of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent, and he is granted SMC based on housebound status. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle, bilateral knee, and left hip disability. The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left thigh strain with limitation of flexion is granted.
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