Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining medical records from a hospital in 1960.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, gastric ulcer disease, hypertension, and prostatitis, were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service event. As a result, the claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, as manifested by one or two exacerbations per year and without incapacitating exacerbations occurring three or more times a year, warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the right and left shoulders, as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for Systemic Rheumatoid Arthritis and Discoid Lupus Erythematosus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange in service. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's sleep apnea and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that rheumatoid arthritis and peptic ulcer disease were not incurred or aggravated during service, and are not otherwise related to service. As a result, the veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints to include the spine, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists. The increased rating claim for trapezitis is also remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence and the need for proper VCAA notification. The claim will be re-adjudicated after obtaining necessary information and records.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee, effective from February 2, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and hypertension, materially contributed to his death from myocardial infarction. The Board finds that the appellant is entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder impingement, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, status post foraminotomy and diskectomy, lumbar strain, degenerative arthritis of the hands, and degenerative arthritis of the knees, are related to service. The Board has granted these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic low back disorder, bilateral amblyopia, and chronic head injury residuals are remanded to the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchial asthma and rheumatoid arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected scarring and rheumatoid arthritis, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on service connection and rating issues.

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