The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they are not related to active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA service. The appellant's claims are based on secondary service connection due to a non-service-connected condition (Lyme disease), but the evidence does not support this claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence that the claimed conditions were incurred during active duty or any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA service, and thus cannot be considered secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Lyme disease, anemia, chronic kidney disease, supraventricular arrhythmia and severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with cardiac dilation (cardiac disorder), right hand swan neck deformity with degenerative arthritis (right hand disorder), left hand swan neck deformity with degenerative arthritis (left hand disorder), right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2026
- Citation
- A26024681
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26024681.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
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The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, effective January 30, 1998. The decision is based on newly associated service treatment records that were not previously considered in the original denial of the claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between chronic kidney disease and service. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.
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