The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthroscopic meniscus repair, left knee arthroscopic meniscus repair, and right hand condition have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knees and right hand conditions, stating there was no in-service injury or disease and no current pathology to warrant a diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Left thumb tendinopathy, residuals of fracture, Right knee arthroscopic meniscus repair, Left knee arthroscopic meniscus repair, Right hand condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26013911
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 A26013911.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hand and lower extremity conditions as secondary to hypertension, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee conditions as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or caused by any service-connected disability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, while the claims for a bilateral foot condition, penile condition, right hand condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for all the conditions claimed by the Veteran, as there was no evidence of a current disability or that any of these conditions were related to his military service.
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.