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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, as she was found capable of performing full-time employment.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for PTSD and right knee replacement was dismissed due to a docketing error.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for left knee surgical scars and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all pending appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.
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