Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hepatitis C and rheumatoid arthritis claims are remanded for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and skin rash due to inadequate examination reports. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his ankle and knee rheumatoid arthritis, as well as wrist conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied as the evidence does not show that his additional disability was due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or other instance of fault.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to environmental exposure, including TCE exposure. The claims are being returned for further development and an addendum VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and rheumatoid arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and for rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's death was attributed to pneumonia, which was not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.,The VA examiners found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis in the Veteran's medical records subsequent to 2005.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung condition and arthritis, finding that there is no current diagnosis of asbestosis or arthritis related to service. The Board also found that any arthritis did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded due to the need for clarification on whether his hepatitis C in service could include non-A or non-B hepatitis, and if so, whether his documented symptoms of jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and liver pain combined with a positive biopsy result for hepatitis C in 1991 make it at least as likely as not that he had hepatitis C in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims, including secondary service connection and a VA examination to clarify the nature of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the evidence did not show a relationship between the condition and active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, despite her functional limitations. The Veteran is currently employed full-time with the federal government and has been since at least June 2007.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including chronic weakness, celiac disease, weight loss, dyslipidemia, polymyalgia rheumatoid, loss of bone density, and SVT. The issues are being remanded for further development as VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) and sarcoidosis associated with rheumatic fever is remanded due to the need for further development.,Additional evidence may be needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.