The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder.,The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's arthritis is a natural progression of aging rather than related to his use of Tegretol for his seizures.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, left knee, or low back disabilities are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder or medication used to treat it. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were due to natural progression of aging rather than related to Tegretol use.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Arthritis, Right Knee Arthritis, Left Knee Arthritis, Low Back Degenerative Changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2016
- Citation
- 1642888
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 1642888.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Granted
The Veteran's left total knee replacement with left knee arthritis and scar, status post left knee arthroscopy, are granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 28, 2025.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and it is not etiologically related to a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for PTSD was not granted, and the claims for left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left knee arthroplasty and rheumatoid arthritis, and right knee arthritis were also denied.
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