The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis, left and right knee degenerative arthritis, left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and sleep apnea.,Service connection is established based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during service and continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle and knee conditions, as well as his shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and sleep apnea are related to his military service. The Board considered all possible theories of service connection and gave the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26026140
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 A26026140.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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