The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and there are no issues to be decided.
The deciding factor: The appellant died, thus the claim is moot due to lack of jurisdiction.
- Claimed conditions
- Right total knee arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20070628
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for right knee instability prior to September 22, 2015, and a 60 percent evaluation for the residuals of a right total knee arthroplasty since November 1, 2016, but denied an increased rating for right knee internal derangement with traumatic arthritis prior to that date and entitlement to TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.