Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar strain has been granted, with a 40 percent disability rating effective from January 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the Veteran's service-connected PTSD to determine if it aggravated his rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining more thorough opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and service connection for sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be caused by her service-connected low back disability, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis did not incept during his military service or within one year of separation, and is not shown to be otherwise related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder bicipital tendinosis and lumbar strain disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to radar or radiation during service and thus not meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a radiogenic disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection due to a March 1992 rating decision that incorrectly denied his initial claim for left hip disorder. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in this decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected inflammatory arthritis. However, his right and left hand disabilities are denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis has been rated at 40 percent since February 2007, with symptom combinations that more closely approximate a definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings or incapacitating exacerbations occurring 3 times per year.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lymphoma has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis has been reopened, but the rating for left eye disability remains remanded due to new evidence and issues with service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for her right wrist, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of neurological impairment in the right wrist or a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in either ankle. The current disability ratings assigned under Diagnostic Codes 5215-8515 and 5271 are found to be appropriate.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a neurological disorder affecting his extremities apart from already service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities, which is attributable to military service. The numbness and tingling in the extremities are not caused or made worse by service-connected TMJ problems.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from March 1, 2008. A separate rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is warranted prior to July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine has been granted. The claims for allergies, hearing loss, glaucoma, and rheumatoid arthritis and/or arthritis of the cervical spine, elbows, wrists, and hips have also been granted with appropriate ratings. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing continuity of symptoms since active duty.