Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2001

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, which was previously denied in 1989.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for rheumatoid arthritis, effective from April 4, 2000. The veteran's service-connected costochondritis of the costo-sternal junction is rated at 10 percent. The claim for allergic rhinitis was reopened and remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, right elbow disorder, and psychosis (paranoid schizophrenia) in April 1987. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the veteran's joint pain was related to his active duty service and considering it as a result of undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 4, 1995 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not currently active and does not have any associated chronic residuals, thus denying his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of the veteran's scleroderma and associated conditions being incurred or aggravated during her active duty service, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder but granted a 60% rating for rheumatoid arthritis, sacroiliac joints and temporomandibular joint with ankylosing spondylitis, sacroiliitis and fibromyalgia.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis was denied by the Board as not well grounded in August 2000. The case was remanded, but the veteran canceled a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied the claim as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's application for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment was denied due to lack of loss of use of one or both feet, but he is eligible for adaptive equipment.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no active process and the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis was granted, and the effective date is set at January 13, 1984. The decision also grants entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) starting from March 1, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disorder, heart disorder, arthritis of the shoulders, feet, and hands, left elbow cubital tunnel syndrome, and bilateral inguinal hernia.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there is no objective radiographic, clinical, or serological evidence of current rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and did not grant an evaluation in excess of 60 percent disabling for rheumatoid arthritis of the spine.

The veteran's vocal cord disability is rated at 50% effective July 27, 1999. The condition was found to be complete paralysis of the left true vocal cord.

The Board has determined that the appellant requires regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities, which qualifies her for special monthly pension based on this need.

The veteran's permanent and total disability due to rheumatoid arthritis has been granted for pension purposes, with a rating of 100% effective as of the date of the decision.

The veteran's death was attributed to multiple pulmonary emboli, with rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions contributing. The appeal is for service connection for the cause of death and dependent's educational assistance under Chapter 35. Further development is needed to obtain relevant medical records.