Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension, as there is no opinion on whether it is related to herbicide agent exposure.,For rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis was diagnosed but not linked to service. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected right hip disability.

The Veteran's ratings for rheumatoid arthritis of the right and left elbows from September 19, 2014 have been granted at a 10 percent level. The Board found that there was no evidence of more than two incapacitating or non-incapacitating exacerbations, weight loss, or anemia due to his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to support reopening of his claims. The appeals are remanded for further development including VA examinations and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases, and insufficient consideration of his educational and occupational history. The case is being returned to obtain additional medical and vocational assessments.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including the medications taken for those disabilities, due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims will be further developed and a new addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his service-connected conditions aggravated his migraines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent for this condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and found new evidence sufficient to support the claim. However, it denied the claim as there is no evidence that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and skin rash are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and shortness of breath were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for right hand disability, left eye disorder, and hypertension due to outstanding medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left leg thrombophlebitis and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for extraschedular evaluation, evaluations in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran is service-connected for bilateral pes planus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and residuals of inguinal hernia. The combined evaluation is 50 percent. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was not diagnosed during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) nor is it related to an injury sustained during ACDUTRA. The Board denied service connection as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the disability was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis, both secondary to hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.