Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's current bilateral foot disorder is related to his active duty for training. A new VA examination is required to determine if any current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disorder, including polyarthralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and Sjogren's Syndrome, is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an unidentified autoimmune disorder or rheumatoid inflammation, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for COPD, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted effective June 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis throughout the appeal period, warranting only a 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the National Guard and to obtain any personnel records. The appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis will be remanded for a VA examination to determine if his current condition was aggravated by his ACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran currently has rheumatoid arthritis but did not develop it during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a connection between the current condition and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death due to pancreatic cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, nor are they related to any disease or injury in service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination, including VA treatment records from 1991-1999 and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and the Veteran's symptoms are better explained by polyarthritis or degenerative joint disease. As such, service connection for rheumatoid arthritis cannot be granted.

The Board determined that the Veteran's period of service from July 3, 2002 to November 7, 2007 was a bar to VA benefits due to misconduct. The character of discharge is under other than honorable conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his right knee disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are not related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 4, 2007, and in excess of 40 percent since April 4, 2007, for his low back disability, and entitlement to TDIU.