Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis, will be reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and related joint disabilities are rated at 20 percent prior to January 15, 2016. The appeals for increased ratings for right ankle, left ankle, right hip, and left hip rheumatoid arthritis were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to rheumatoid factor or heart issues, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, bilateral hip arthritis, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since January 9, 2006. The decision grants a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand disability and an increased rating for iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, finding no evidence to support the presence or causation of these conditions in service. The claim for left knee instability was granted with a separate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis and DDD have been dismissed. The appeal for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied, while tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for Parkinson’s disease and right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are pending and need further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and parathyroidism, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his age and other non-service-connected conditions are the primary factors preventing employment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis and to obtain private treatment records from Dr. J.P. and Paradigm Orthopedics.

The Veteran's dental disability is not considered a compensable condition due to the presence of treatable carious teeth and replaceable missing teeth, which are not service-connected for compensation purposes.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left hip dislocation, lumbar spine condition, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left foot disorders. The VA is requested to obtain expert opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the lower extremities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at 90 percent combined.

The Veteran's right shoulder pain and left shoulder radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,A 20 percent disability rating has been granted for dystaxia, left upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from February 2017 to the present.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed osteoarthritis, which is claimed as rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders and legs. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new opinions.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for respiratory conditions and rheumatoid arthritis due to a lack of STRs, and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis and remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and is denied.,Rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred or aggravated during service and is denied.,Type II diabetes mellitus was not diagnosed within the applicable presumptive period and is denied.,Numbness in the hands and feet, presumed secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, is not supported by evidence of a current disability.