Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney condition, rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal (GI) condition. The remand is due to inadequate medical nexus opinions obtained on previous remands.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis will be reconsidered by VBA.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the May 2018 remand directives and has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from Allen Park VAMC, Detroit VAMC, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and any TRICARE records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the knees, ankles, arms, hands, feet, and back is remanded.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted, and his PTSD with unspecified trauma disorder is rated at 50 percent. Service connection for hypothyroidism with benign tumor is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining information about the qualifications of VA clinicians and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver, are related to his military service. The examiner must consider the April 1969 service treatment records and the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding his claimed bilateral knee, ankle, foot, hand, and wrist disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are related to service. The VA examiner must provide a nexus opinion addressing the continuity of symptomatology and any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The case is remanded for further examination regarding his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of death and the relationship between asbestos exposure and heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been remanded by the Board due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 10, 2014 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date was February 10, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was also denied as it should correspond to the effective dates for service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete or inaccurate medical opinions regarding service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional clarification and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, worsening of symptoms since the last examination, and need for additional medical opinions regarding right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The claim for service connection of a right hip disability is reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to need for further evaluation and evidence collection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and other conditions. The appeals are now remanded to determine whether service connection can be established.

The Board has ordered a new opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated any of his immediate causes of death, and if so, whether it contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for Grave's disease with hyperthyroidism and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his autoimmune conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the right wrist, as well as its relationship to his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture with degenerative changes and loss of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand and foot disabilities to include rheumatoid arthritis due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran served in Southwest Asia, where he was exposed to burn pit toxins.