Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for primary anemia has been withdrawn. The Board grants the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, with the effective date being October 1, 2026 (PACT Act). The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral knee arthritis is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether his current conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot conditions.

The Veteran's claim for rheumatoid arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claims for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are remanded to obtain a VA examination to clarify whether they are related to service-connected PTSD or other medical conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is remanded to determine the cause of her weight gain, which may be due to medications prescribed for PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for liver disease is remanded to determine if it was caused by weight gain due to medications prescribed for PTSD and lack of motivation to exercise due to PTSD. Service connection cannot be established as no direct link to service has been found.,The Veteran's claim for cerebral aneurysm rupture is remanded to determine if it was related to hypertension, which is already service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left foot conditions on a direct basis.,The Board has also granted service connection for right and left knee conditions on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development regarding potential chemical exposures at Fort McClellan and Fort Me1973. The claims are related as they all involve exposure to chemicals or toxins, including PCBs.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's left knee and hip disabilities due to inadequate evaluations in previous examinations.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and migraine headaches has been granted.,The claims of service connection for osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and anemia have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis.

The appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, skin cancer (secondary to herbicide exposure), and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, bilateral elbow condition, joint pain (rheumatoid arthritis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to new information regarding her exposure to toxic agents during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and conflicting diagnoses. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is being evaluated as secondary to his service-connected back and right wrist degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50% effective March 1, 2013. Her rheumatoid arthritis continues to be rated as 40%. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist and right wrist disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted.,A rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 25, 2017, for bronchial asthma, and in excess of 50 percent from April 25, 2017, for sleep apnea with bronchial asthma has been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis has been granted, as the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection has also been granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis. The preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, a disability rating, and TDIU due to outstanding records and need for medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, rosacea, and depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The rating for tinea versicolor is set at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her previously denied claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, rheumatoid arthritis, a lumbar spine disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, a right wrist disorder, and a left wrist disorder. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted SMC benefits under Section 1114(o) for his service-connected disabilities and also SMC benefits at the (r)(1) rate due to need for regular aid and attendance. The issues of entitlement to SMC under Sections 1114(k), (l), and (m) are moot as they provide lesser benefits than Section 1114(o).

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis. The issues are related to both service-connected disabilities and potential herbicide exposure.