Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to service, and therefore does not warrant service connection.,There is no evidence of a current contact dermatitis or concrete poisoning in service, and any such condition is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an extraschedular rating or TDIU, as his symptoms are adequately addressed by the current schedular ratings and he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and gastrointestinal disorder are related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for another VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected foot disability, including any impact from rheumatoid arthritis. Additional medical records should also be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disorder with weakness is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an EMG test and clarification of any neurological condition involving his legs.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathies of the right upper extremity, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any existing condition to service or a service-connected disorder.

The case is being remanded for additional development of medical records and the provision of a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis. The TDIU claim also needs to be addressed.

The Board has determined that further examination and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis is denied as there was no prior informal or formal claim filed before July 8, 2010. The grant of service connection occurred on July 8, 2010.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted based on evidence showing a perceptible change in hearing during service. The tinnitus is also considered service-connected as it is related to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac disability, and hypertension. The Veteran was not granted any effective date prior to April 19, 2011, for his PTSD rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Boston. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for sciatic neuropathy and radiculopathy are pending.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran also had his request to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, knees, feet, elbows, hands, and neck denied.