Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2004

The Board's November 1956 decision denying restoration of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic heart disease is revised to grant such connection as if it had been granted at the time.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis is service-connected, having onset during his active duty.

The Board has determined that rheumatoid arthritis is presumed to have been incurred in active duty due to its manifestation within a year of service discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and asthma, as well as his increased rating claim for lumbosacral strain. The veteran was granted a 40 percent evaluation for his lumbosacral strain under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injury, rheumatoid and/or osteoarthritis, and peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing her with VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for multiple disabilities, including PTB, rheumatoid arthritis, BPH, and bilateral cataract. The claim for malaria was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis of the left wrist, right ankle, and left ankle. The initial evaluation for PTSD was not met, and there is no evidence of an active rheumatoid arthritis process or ankylosis in any joint.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that no service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) for the period from March 17, 1997 to April 30, 1998 due to lack of additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent and because he was not substantially confined as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current rheumatoid and gouty arthritis are not related to his military service, including any alleged cold injury in service. The claim for residuals of a cold weather injury other than rheumatoid or gouty arthritis is being remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause his death, and there was no evidence linking any other condition to his death. The claim for Chapter 35 benefits also lacks legal merit.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and tremors, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, shell fragment wound residuals, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and appendicitis. The right ear hearing loss disability was assigned a noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has ordered additional development due to new medical opinions, and the case is being returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the veteran's periods of active duty for training in the Air Force Reserves. The RO is instructed to obtain verification and additional medical records, and then readjudicate the service connection claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred or aggravated during active duty, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The veteran's service-connected condition did not cause his current rheumatoid arthritis.