The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hips, knees, shoulders, and IBS are granted. The claim for persistent fatigue was denied. An initial 70 percent rating is granted for unspecified anxiety disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his conceded toxic exposures, particularly burn pits and related environmental hazards.
- Claimed conditions
- left hip degenerative arthritis, status post replacement, right hip degenerative arthritis, status post replacement, left (non-dominant) shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, right (dominant) shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, left knee meniscal tear, right knee meniscal tear, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), persistent fatigue
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26020444
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 A26020444.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee meniscal tear and denied his request for an increased rating for left knee laxity.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left knee arthritis, and bilateral knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay evidence regarding the onset of symptoms in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
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