Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2017

The Veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine was found to have manifested within one year of separation from active service, warranting presumptive service connection.,There is no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis or any other diagnosed condition in the elbows, wrists, and hips during service. The Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis have been dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from pancreatic cancer, which developed after service.

The Board has determined that SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse is not warranted due to her functional capacity, which does not require personal assistance from others.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence of a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, which is required for service connection. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and lumbar spine disability have been granted effective December 31, 2012. The scar associated with his lumbar spine disability has also been granted an initial rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a pulmonary condition, gout, degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and metabolic syndrome. The Board also found that there is no evidence of chemical exposure or TCE exposure to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence of record meets the minimum threshold for obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's arthritic conditions are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the above-mentioned issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and left foot disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU were met.