The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, cervical spine DDD with cervical radiculopathy, and bilateral upper extremity CTS. Service connection is denied for a right thumb condition, right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis, and left and right upper extremity neurological disorders.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no chronicity of the current conditions during service or after service, and provided opinions that the current conditions are not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Thumb Condition, Right Shoulder Strain with Osteoarthritis (right shoulder disability), Lumbar Spine Degenerative Arthritis and Spinal Stenosis (low back disability), Cervical Spine DDD with Cervical Radiculopathy, Left Upper Extremity (LUE) Neurological Disorder (CTS and cervical radiculopathy), Right Upper Extremity (RUE) Neurological Disorder (CTS and cervical radiculopathy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017334
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 A26017334.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right thumb condition, left thumb condition, and low back disability due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's complaints of pain are considered in determining whether there is a current diagnosis or functional impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right thumb condition results in limited gripping, which is currently rated at 30%. The Board has granted this rating. However, the Veteran also seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD claimed as secondary to his right thumb condition and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his right thumb condition. These issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right thumb condition, which may be related to an in-service injury during a fight with a fellow serviceman.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg pain, right knee pain, right shoulder pain, wrist pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The claim for service connection for left elbow disorder is reopened.,Service connection for lumbosacral arthritis, left knee arthralgia, left shoulder osteoarthritis, foot (toe) osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus II, and hearing loss in the left ear have also been denied.
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