The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various service connection and rating decisions related to gout affecting multiple joints, left foot gout, right foot gout, elbow pronation and supination gout, elbow limitation of flexion gout, thumb gout, index finger gout, long finger gout, ring and little finger gout, middle finger gout, ankle gout, knee gout, and right thumb gout. The effective dates for these decisions were not earlier than the specified dates.
The deciding factor: The amendments to the rating schedule did not allow for an earlier effective date due to the change in criteria applied after February 7, 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- gout affecting multiple joints with gouty arthritis, left foot gout, right foot gout, right elbow pronation and supination gout, right elbow limitation of flexion gout, left elbow pronation and supination gout, left elbow limitation of flexion gout, left thumb gout, right thumb gout, left index finger gout, right index finger gout, right long finger gout, left ring and little finger gout, right little finger gout, left middle finger gout, left ankle gout, right ankle gout, right knee gout
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26040352
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 A26040352.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as he does not have a single disability rated at 100% and his disabilities are not so severe that they render him substantially confined to his residence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for urinary frequency, as secondary to hypertension and non-service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The other claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis, but the claims of bilateral knee disabilities and left ankle disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left ankle gout, right ankle gout, left knee gout, left wrist gout, and right wrist gout. The Veteran's claim for right knee gout was incorporated into an already service-connected right knee disability.
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