The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a residual left knee disability, including as residuals of an infection, due to VA treatment in September 2012. The Board finds that additional records are needed and requests a VA opinion.
The deciding factor: The claim requires clarification regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically whether it was caused by VA treatment or an unforeseeable event.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee infection, septic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18135888
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 18135888.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found deficiencies in a previous VA medical opinion and has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder complications following his surgery. The Veteran contends that he suffered additional disability due to unqualified personnel administering a Cortisone injection several months after his surgery.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that his left knee infection and related disabilities were caused by VA medical treatment or surgery.
- Dismissed
The appeals regarding the rating reduction for left knee and higher disability ratings for right knee have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's left knee infection following surgery was not caused by VA negligence or carelessness, and it was a foreseeable event. The claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, left leg disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and sleep disorder were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.
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