Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2016

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the right and left ankles was rated at 10% from December 6, 2011 to April 4, 2014. From April 5, 2014 onwards, each ankle is rated at 20%. The Board denied claims for increased ratings.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and granted it. The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is still pending.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, cervical spine disability, and arthritis of the bilateral hips. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are also granted.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's Still's disease had its initial onset during his period of active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability (residuals of left pterygium excision with nasal peripheral corneal scarring and neovascularization) is not shown to cause any visual impairment or conjunctivitis, and has not resulted in disfigurement.,A compensable rating is not warranted for the veteran's service-connected left eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was granted, with a current effective date back to the date his claim was received.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is found to be the result of her service-connected PTSD, and thus she is granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 10 percent, with occupational and social impairment due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia but denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining records from SSA, VA treatment records, and opinions regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her right knee and migraine headaches were denied. The Veteran was assigned a 30 percent disability rating for chronic migraines, effective from September 17, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or a disability for which service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disease, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, combined at a 50 percent evaluation, substantially prevents him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral cataracts and bilateral pterygium are related to his active service. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, and hands remain pending as they require additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, rheumatoid arthritis and eye disorder were not service connected, and there is no indication of any other service connection issues.

The Veteran's positive PPD test during service does not constitute a diagnosis of active tuberculosis. The Board finds no evidence of current disability or clinically significant disorder related to the positive PPD test, and there is no probative evidence of any active pulmonary symptomatology attributed to tuberculosis.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her service connection claims for foot disability, rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, respiratory disorder, and diabetes mellitus are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his period of active service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between any current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and personnel data from her reserve service. She will also undergo examinations to determine the relationship between her current conditions and service.