Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left upper extremity disorder, including radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are related to active service or otherwise caused by his service-connected cervical spine strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for premature ventricular contraction secondary to her service-connected hypertension and right hand arthritis (degenerative and rheumatoid), finding that there is no causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE), migraine headaches, and thoracic spine disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

Service connection is granted for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension. Service connection is also granted for an immune system condition (multiple infections). However, service connection is denied for prostate hypertrophy.,The Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.,The Veteran has a compromised immune system likely due to the medications he takes for his rheumatoid arthritis. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is not granted for prostate hypertrophy as there is no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms in service and no medical nexus between current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and lumbar spine conditions, pes planus, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, and left ankle sprain, are found to preclude her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and skin disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there are no compensable symptoms. The Veteran's low back strain is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined resulted in debilitating effects that rendered him less capable of resisting heart disease.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings on multiple rheumatoid arthritis conditions have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, right and left lower extremities were denied.,An effective date prior to August 1, 2017, was not granted for service connection of radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, right and left lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated VA medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder, left collar bone, right elbow, and rheumatoid arthritis conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claim because service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was already granted in a March 2020 rating decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including ratings for osteoarthritis and radiculopathy of both upper extremities. The TDIU issue is also on hold until further review.

The Veteran's increased rating and initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis is rated at 20 percent since July 15, 2019. The Board found no evidence of favorable ankylosis or IVDS that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for rheumatoid arthritis and denied her claim for a lung disability (previously claimed as bilateral pneumonitis inflammatory lung disease). The denial of service connection for the lung disability is based on lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and outstanding private treatment records. The issues are related to various conditions including actinic keratosis, atherosclerosis lower extremities, atrial fibrillation, basal cell carcinoma left and right cheek/right nose, cervical spine stenosis, chronic kidney disease stage 3, depression, erectile dysfunction, essential hypertension, left carotid stenosis, mixed hyperlipidemia, lumbar spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and carotid artery stenosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right index finger disability, right great toe disability, and bilateral elbow and ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.