A lack of in-service treatment records for joint pain does not automatically doom a claim, but it does shift more weight onto other forms of evidence. VA is required to consider the entire record, including lay evidence, under 38 CFR 3.303(a) and (b), and 38 USC 1154(a) specifically directs VA to give due consideration to the places, types, and circumstances of a veteran's service when evaluating evidence of incurrence. A mechanic's MOS involving repetitive impact-tool use, heavy lifting, and prolonged standing on concrete is exactly the kind of occupational evidence that supports a nexus opinion, even without contemporaneous sick call visits.
The absence of STR documentation is common, since many service members self-treat with over-the-counter medication rather than go on profile. A personal statement (VA Form 21-4138) describing the physical demands of the job, how often the pain occurred, and how it was managed is useful, but it works best alongside other supporting evidence: buddy statements from fellow service members who observed the pain or self-treatment, any post-service treatment records showing early onset after separation, and a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) from the Compensation & Pension exam that directly addresses etiology.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →At the C&P exam, the examiner is asked to render a nexus opinion on whether the current joint condition is at least as likely as not related to service. Examiners can and do rely on lay statements about repetitive strain and duty conditions when they are consistent with the claimed MOS and current diagnosis, but the ultimate opinion is a medical judgment, so outcomes vary examiner to examiner. If the initial rating decision denies the claim for lack of an in-service event, veterans can appeal; note that in the appealed VA decisions in VetAid's library, half of appealed service-connection cases were vacated or remanded and about a third were affirmed as denials, though appealed cases are a self-selected group and this does not reflect the odds of an initial claim being approved.
A strong buddy statement from someone who served alongside you and can corroborate the physical work and visible pain, combined with a detailed personal statement and any early post-service medical evidence, is the most concrete step to take before the Board of Veterans' Appeals or the Decision Review Officer process becomes necessary.
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