Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of the sacroiliac joints. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death from myocardial rupture and ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and rheumatoid arthritis, finding no evidence of these conditions in the record.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is not related to his in-service rheumatic fever, and thus denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis, rheumatoid, mild, sternoclavicular joints, and knees. The case is now remanded to determine if the veteran currently has these conditions and whether they are related to his recognized service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diagnosed conditions of scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis. The claim for increased evaluation for cold injury residuals (hands) is also denied as there are no additional manifestations to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his rheumatoid arthritis conditions are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatic fever with residuals, finding that there was no evidence of rheumatic fever during service and insufficient medical nexus opinions to establish a relationship between current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and/or inflammatory synovitis is related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for intestinal parasitism and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus the RO's decision to sever these conditions from service connection is upheld.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatic condition, including reactive arthritis and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection for various joint pains, finding that his right knee disability was manifested by symptoms of pain, swelling, tenderness, crepitus, motion limited from 10 to 140 degrees when considering functional impairment, and arthritis confirmed by x-ray examination. There is no instability of the right knee joint.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis C, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for dental trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, and sleep apnea. Service connection was granted for Dupuytren's Contracture of the left hand with a rating assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine with cervical disc disease, hypertension with sinus tachycardia, and malignant thymoma. The claim for residuals of a back muscle strain was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions and denied entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the appellant's current right knee disability is not related to her service, as there was no chronic injury during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and no evidence linking it to a pre-existing condition. The VA examiner concluded that the current right knee injury most likely resulted from hemophilia causing joint bleeding.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, including his medial meniscus tear, is not severe enough to warrant a compensable rating due to its primary association with rheumatoid arthritis.