Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. From August 12, 2008 to the present, a separate rating of 10 percent for mild instability and from July 12, 2019 to the present, a separate rating of 10 percent for limited extension are granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether rheumatoid arthritis and squamous basal cell conditions are related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Raynaud's syndrome due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, a respiratory condition, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examinations and missing records. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral leg limitation is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining claims for higher ratings on his right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for CFS and a rating greater than 30 percent for IBS, but has remanded the remaining issues due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including melanoma, prostate disorder, hypertension, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, erectile dysfunction, and cancer of the lymph nodes. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and determine if there is a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service, particularly his exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional information and VA examinations.

The Veteran's son is not eligible for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1815 because the appellant's mother is not a Vietnam veteran and does not meet the criteria for benefits based on birth defects other than spina bifida.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for various conditions including a left knee disability, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, IBS, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gout in the feet and hands, sleep apnea, and hypertension (high blood pressure) as there was no evidence of a current disability or link to active service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar arthritis, radiculopathy, right knee DJD, and left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded for a new examination, while the hypertension issue may be affected by the outcome of the rheumatoid arthritis claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic joint pain and a low back disorder due to insufficient medical evidence on the record investigating possible relationships between his current conditions and his in-service diagnoses. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed fibromyalgia had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examinations and incomplete opinions. The issues include determining appropriate evaluations, service connection, and whether the disabilities are related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need to consider a recent VA opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various rheumatoid arthritis conditions of the shoulders, hands, wrists, feet, and knees are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to his incarceration, and also because of the inextricability with other service-connected disabilities. The specific issues are related to rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, initial ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU from July 1, 2007, to May 10, 2010.