• Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498 (1995): Establishes the three foundational pillars for service connection: (1) current medical diagnosis, (2) in-service incurrence or event, and (3) medical nexus.

• DeLuca v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 202 (1995): Mandates that VA rating examiners evaluate functional loss due to pain, weakness, and decreased range of motion during flare-up episodes.

• Mitchell v. Shinseki, 25 Vet. App. 32 (2011): Prohibits examiners from evaluating disability solely based on range of motion at rest; functional impairment during repeated use must be rated.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1119 (TERA): Concedes toxic exposures during active operational duty for all covered veterans without requiring direct individual STR records.