Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2002

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. The RO denied these claims in March 1997, which became final.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spines, finding that the evidence did not warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The appeal is granted on this basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis of the knees and spine, bilateral radicular pains due to nerve root compression, flat feet, and an eye disability, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a stab wound of the right leg. The decision also denied reopening of his claim for residuals of a stab wound of the left leg.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 80 percent for the veteran's service-connected ankylosing spondylitis, resolving doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board found that rheumatoid arthritis did not initially manifest during the veteran's service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not have any of the claimed conditions during service or currently, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, there is no causal link between this condition and active military service.

The Board has reduced the veteran's rating for rheumatoid arthritis from 40 percent to 0 percent, effective December 1, 2000. The reduction was based on a VA examination that demonstrated no active rheumatoid arthritis and material improvement in the disability.

The veteran's appeal involves issues related to his lumbosacral strain and service connection for heart disorder. The case is being remanded for further development, including adjudication of the service connection issue.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have current rheumatoid arthritis or carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the left thumb and hand, which were not incurred during active service. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred or aggravated by active duty and is not etiologically related to his service-connected hyperparathyroidism.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as because he did not have service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial in September 1995. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death on the merits, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any condition incurred or aggravated during active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Member of the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, but the Board finds that no such effective date can be assigned as there was a final denial followed by a reopened claim with new and material evidence. The earliest possible effective date is February 11, 1991.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, and granted a 10% disability rating for residuals of a pilonidal cyst.

The Board determined that the veteran's chronic acquired bilateral shoulder disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis warranted a 60 percent evaluation prior to April 17, 2000.