Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service, including spinal meningitis and restless leg syndrome. The bilateral foot disability is also considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his hip and sacroiliac spine conditions have been denied due to lack of evidence showing that any condition warrants a higher rating than the current 10 percent evaluations. The Board found no ankylosis or other compensable limitation in motion, and thus could not grant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current multiple joint complaints, including reactive arthritis and tinnitus, are related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current radiculopathy of the lower extremities and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no probative evidence of record linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his military service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, contact dermatitis (claimed as concrete poisoning), depression, essential tremors of the hands, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision also addressed a claim for right total hip arthroplasty but found no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records from Martinsburg, West Virginia VAMC.

The Board found that the appellant's current back, shoulder, foot, and hand disabilities did not manifest during his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and are not etiologically related to service. As such, service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the reductions in rating were proper and that the criteria for higher ratings had not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his low back and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran has not had a systemic arthritic disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis, during the pendency of this claim and therefore denied service connection for such disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for left shoulder rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and spleen, gall bladder, and pancreas removal are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that diabetes mellitus did not manifest during or within one year of separation from active service and was not caused by active service. Hyperlipidemia is considered a laboratory result rather than a disability. The other conditions were also not found to have manifested during service or be causally related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, of all joints was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 17, 1998 for a 100% disability evaluation for service-connected rheumatoid arthritis. The decision is final as of December 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a multiple joint-related disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is being remanded due to the need for additional development.