The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current left ankle, right ankle, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, and back pain disabilities, as well as her cervical strain. These conditions are deemed to have been incurred during active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's reported joint pains and injuries during service were consistent with her duties and environment, and she provided credible lay testimony regarding these symptoms continuing since separation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ankle Pain Disability, Right Ankle Pain Disability, Left Hip Pain Disability, Right Hip Pain Disability, Left Knee Pain Disability, Right Knee Pain Disability, Left Shoulder Pain Disability, Right Shoulder Pain Disability, Back Pain Disability, Cervical Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2026
- Citation
- A26035412
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 A26035412.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating is restored to 50 percent, but his other orthopedic disabilities remain in dispute and require further review.,His cervical strain, DJD of the left knee, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are all rated below their maximum possible ratings due to lack of evidence showing they meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of her right shoulder disability. The appeal is remanded to consider a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain.
- Granted
An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.
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