Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's May 18, 1978 application for non-service-connected pension benefits did not meet the required elements of a claim for service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was fixed in accordance with the facts found and is set at December 2, 2004.

The Veteran withdrew from appellate consideration the issues on appeal, including the increased rating claim for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, glaucoma, bilateral gynecomastia, status post subcutaneous mastectomy, left and right knee disorders, left and right shoulder disorders, a cervical spine disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis has been reopened, and the Board finds that new evidence supports a finding that his condition may be related to service. The Veteran is granted service connection for this disability.,Service connection is also granted for diverticulitis, as it is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to burn pits during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic brain injury is service-connected, and he is entitled to compensation for this condition. The claims for hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis are pending.

The Board has granted a separate compensable disability rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion for the left thumb, but denied an initial compensable disability rating for rheumatoid arthritis affecting the left hand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 19, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of diabetes mellitus, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, or peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities that are related to his service or herbicide exposure. The heart condition is not presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, fatigue, and sleep disturbance are not related to his service or any exposure therein. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, with the effective date being from the date of receipt of his application. The combined disability rating is at least 70% due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are proximately caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis, heart disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome have not been met due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing a supplemental VA opinion regarding her claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disorder and TDIU rating were both denied by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease as due to medications used to treat RA, and a disability manifested by memory loss as due to RA. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a disability manifested by memory loss is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral leg disabilities were dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular criteria for TDIU since February 8, 2016. The Board has referred the case to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board granted service connection for a left forearm scar and denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). Service connection was not established for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative changes with IVDS and radiculopathy of the femoral nerves were not found to warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The evidence did not show sufficient impairment for higher ratings.

The Board finds that the Veteran's macular degeneration and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 are not service-connected. The ankle conditions have been rated appropriately, but the Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, resulting from an injury during service, was incurred or aggravated by active service. Additionally, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.