Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the low back as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service, and they are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have rheumatoid arthritis related to service. The claims for diabetes mellitus, voiding dysfunction (chronic urinary tract infections), finger disabilities of the left hand, finger disabilities of the right hand, and lumbar spine disability are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if her fibromyalgia and polyarthralgia/rheumatoid arthritis are related to her service-connected bladder disability, and to verify her Persian Gulf war service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including associated radiculopathy to the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, is rated at 40 percent since May 19, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and bilateral eye disability were granted. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to January 16, 2015 was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and possibly a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, is not related to any event or incident of his active service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a bone chip fracture of the left ankle.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on multiple conditions were denied, and the RO maintained the current disability rating of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current rheumatoid arthritis disability is causally related to her periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA), and therefore grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the claims, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and a DRO hearing. The Veteran's representative requested a travel board hearing on his behalf.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 18, 2011 for the award of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability rating was at least 70% from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current right knee disability is related to active duty, service-connected rheumatoid arthritis, or left knee osteoarthritis. The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's current right knee disability was caused by his service-connected conditions and whether it was aggravated by them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis did not have its onset during military service and is not otherwise related to such service. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling, but there is no evidence of a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any current diagnoses are related to military service.

The Veteran's sinusitis/rhinitis, bilateral hip osteopenia with secondary arthralgias, and fibromyalgia/rheumatoid arthritis are not service-connected. However, the Veteran's bilateral hip osteopenia is found to be related to her service-connected residuals of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as there is no competent and credible evidence linking these conditions to the Appellant's period of active duty.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, rheumatoid factor, and heart disorder effective from September 9, 2010. The claims were based on the Veteran's statements of having these conditions since at least 1992.