The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current left knee arthritis, status post left total knee replacement, is causally related to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The decision is therefore mixed.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examiner in June 2004 concluded that the veteran's left knee condition was not secondary to his service-connected low back disability, while another private orthopedist opined that it was significantly related to his low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee arthritis, degenerative joint disease of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0601810
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and tinnitus. The increased evaluation claim for pes planus was denied, as was the increase in rating for the right wrist fracture. The reduction of the right wrist rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was found improper, restoring the 10 percent rating.
- Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, but granted service connection for prostate cancer.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for bilateral hand, hip, knee, and lumbosacral arthritis to provide further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis based on new and relevant evidence.
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