Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have peripheral neuritis or rheumatoid arthritis of the right and left lower extremities during service, nor can they be linked to service. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not attributable to Agent Orange exposure and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service and denied all claims.

The veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective April 1991.,Her right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever, but denied his claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant's claims have been previously addressed, and the current assertions are considered cumulative.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to any inservice injuries.