Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, TBI, rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, left elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, numbness and stiffness in the right toes, numbness, pain, and tingling in the left leg, joint pain and swelling in the jaw, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunions, right foot bunions, residuals of a rib fracture, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, chronic fatigue disorder, pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder manifest by an irregular heartbeat, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal disorder manifested by gas and stomach problems, GERD, kidney disorder, residuals of a left chest lipoma, obesity, left arm disorder, and numbness, pain, and stiffness in the fingers.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not supported by evidence, and her claims lack a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right ankle blisters were not found during examinations and no treatment records show the condition. The claim for this issue is denied.,There is no evidence of a neurological disability of both hands in service or related to service. The claim for this issue is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or etiology. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is presumed to have been caused by contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis, and polymyalgia rheumatica and cervical stenosis due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents is conceded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain the Veteran’s complete service treatment records and verify his reported exposure to herbicides during his time in Germany.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip synovitis, meralgia paresthetica of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and chronic headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression have been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims, particularly in relation to service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability, specifically PTSD with major depressive disorder.,Service connection for a kidney disability and rheumatoid arthritis are both remanded as there was no opinion on whether these conditions were related to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains pending due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions result in loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring her to rely on a walker or wheelchair for mobility. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to this condition.

The Board has decided that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, and has ordered further medical evaluation to determine if it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded cases for service connection of various conditions claimed as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis but denied claims for left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and an eye disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate examinations in the previous rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The dates of active duty training (ACDUTRA) need to be confirmed, and if possible, additional treatment records related to these periods should be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spine condition, GERD, and IBS is granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability related to his in-service symptoms and provided sufficient evidence to support this finding.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to have a factual need for aid and attendance due to her medical conditions, mobility issues, and financial management.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected, and they have ordered additional medical records to be obtained. They also requested an expert opinion on whether the Veteran’s PTSD contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and left foot disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being reviewed in light of this new information.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for PFB, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bilateral Shin Splints, Left Finger Disability, Right Elbow Disability, and Right Shoulder Disability. The decision remains pending on the merits.