Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the Board found no nexus between her current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder was denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrists, hands, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee were all denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for RA, parathyroidism, and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as secondary to his service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disability, granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and denied service connection for a right ankle disability and LLE radiculopathy. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of RLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis (also claimed as HLA-B27 arthritis), COPD, and a heart condition. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, previously diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis is denied. The Board finds insufficient evidence to link the condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity was denied as the symptoms are described by the schedular criteria and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted, with the Board finding that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment consistent with his occupational and vocational experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis, left hip disability (claimed as left hip replacement), pulmonary disability (COPD), Raynaud's disease, skin cancer, and neuropathy of the lower extremities due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that an adequate opinion is required to make a decision on the merits of the appellant's service connection claim for cause of death, and thus remanded. The accrued benefits claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention or treatment related to this condition.,Service connection for a back condition, secondary to a left knee condition, was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition occurred during or within one year after service.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention of this condition.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention of this condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Graves' disease and its secondary effects, including rheumatoid arthritis, eye irritation, and high cholesterol. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbosacral strain and entitlement to TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2012. His TDIU claim is granted on an extraschedular basis from May 4, 2009.

The Board has remanded the issues of propriety of reduction in rating of rheumatoid arthritis, entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee traumatic arthritis, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to procedural errors and need for further examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals on multiple service connection claims, and the Board has dismissed these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service injury or disease of the feet and no relationship between current rheumatoid arthritis and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and skin rash as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to presumed environmental exposures during his service in Southwest Asia. The claims are being remanded to reschedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed arthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis musculoskeletal condition other than bilateral knee, bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine and fibromyalgia. The examiner should also address the relationship between the Veteran’s service-connected conditions, the development of obesity, and development of arthritis.