The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected arthritis of multiple joints with bilateral total knee replacement contributed substantially to cause his death.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the veteran's confinement to a wheelchair and bed was due to weakness, instability and pain associated with his service-connected arthritis and status post bilateral knee replacements. Dr. Pena has clearly stated that the service-connected disabilities contributed to the veteran's deterioration.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee replacement, right knee replacement, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the lumbar spine, arthritis of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 26, 2000
- Citation
- 0016886
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 0016886.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.
- Granted
The Veteran was eligible for beneficiary travel benefits to attend a VA medical appointment on March 16, 2021 due to his service-connected conditions. The Board found that the nearest available clinic provided the required care and that the Veteran's statements were credible and consistent with the evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and accrued benefits due to procedural issues, as the appeals were not within the modernized review system.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee replacement and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to his military service.
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