The Board denied service connection for right hand osteoarthritis, left foot osteoarthritis, and a right foot disorder to include osteoarthritis and neuropathy. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but the evidence did not support his assertions of in-service onset or continuity.,There is no credible medical evidence linking any current right hand, left foot, or right foot conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no objective evidence in service treatment records supporting a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service. The Veteran's assertions of in-service onset were not supported by medical history reports from service indicating he did not have any foot or hand problems.,The Veteran's statements about in-service onset are inconsistent with past medical records, which do not mention any left foot issues during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hand osteoarthritis, Left foot osteoarthritis, Right foot disorder (including osteoarthritis and neuropathy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2026
- Citation
- A26023349
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 A26023349.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine spondylosis, right hand osteoarthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis based on chronic disease presumptive service connection due to symptoms that had their onset during service and have been continuous since service separation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 17, 2010, to December 12, 2012. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined impact of multiple joint disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.
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