Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cases of right heel spurs and left heel spurs are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the condition had its onset during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and review of his claims, including the need for a VA mental health examination and an evaluation of his arthritis claim.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for chronic headaches and arthritis, bilateral hands was denied as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for hepatitis C, bilateral vision issues, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer were also denied due to lack of material evidence addressing the service connection elements of in-service incurrence or nexus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The claims for Meniere’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease/Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include generalized anxiety disorder), cirrhosis of the liver, a left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are all remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for a heart disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim of hypertension is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The claims of OSA, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, left hand and right hand disabilities, and left knee disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and anxiety due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA). The case is being returned for further development, including an examination to determine if rheumatoid arthritis had its onset during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain and diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a link to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for asthma was remanded.

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg condition and TDIU, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 18, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.