The Veteran's appeal of the deferral of a decision for entitlement to service connection for a foot fungal condition is dismissed. Entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, migraines, and chronic sinusitis disabilities are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the deferral of decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a foot fungal condition. The Board found that the issues related to left hand, right hand, migraines, chronic sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss were supported by evidence showing in-service injury or exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- left hand disability, right hand disability, migraines, chronic sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, left jaw condition, right jaw condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26015628
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 A26015628.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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