The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hammer toe, left hammer toe, lower back strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses of these conditions during the pendency of the claim or approximate to its initiation.
The deciding factor: There is no persuasive evidence showing that the Veteran currently has diagnoses of right hammer toe, left hammer toe, lower back strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- right hammer toe, left hammer toe, lower back strain, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2026
- Citation
- A26029822
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 A26029822.
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
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as not meeting VA criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's left ACL tear, right ankle sprain, lower back strain, and right shoulder strain are all denied as not meeting VA criteria for a disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lower back strain, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, service connection for hearing loss in the left ear, and obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed.,An increased rating of 40 percent, but not higher, has been granted for chronic urinary tract infection to include urge incontinence (previously claimed as frequent urination) from October 15, 2018.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.
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