Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether rheumatoid arthritis was proximately caused or aggravated by left knee osteoarthritic changes, including any medication used for treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary incontinence and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that the urinary incontinence was related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus being incurred in or aggravated by service, and the cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has found that the current record is insufficient to rate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and thus remands for an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing service treatment records and incomplete National Guard service information.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date prior to June 6, 2016 for service connection of degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.,Service connection for a cardiac disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,,,

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability, but denied all other claims.,PTSD was previously denied and is not being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia, but denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and epilepsy. The Veteran's insomnia is found to be caused by his service-connected back disability. His rheumatoid arthritis and epilepsy are not related to his military service or any other condition.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and an increased rating for a low back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for blurred vision and rheumatoid arthritis/degenerative bone disease, but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the feet, hands, wrists, ankles, shoulders, and hips are found to be causally or etiologically due to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for multiple joint arthritis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The appeals of several conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DDD and associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities did not render him unemployable prior to December 19, 2017. The combined rating was 50 percent from that date to December 18, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine scoliosis status post lower back surgery with intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities is being remanded due to incomplete development. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation issues.