Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including from the PACT Act. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is granted as secondary to a service-connected thyroid disability.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for left ankle and right hand rheumatoid arthritis as they were already pending at the AOJ.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (chloracne and/or dermatitis) as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for acute renal failure (kidney condition) as due to an enlarged prostate and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for total right knee replacement, to include as due to rheumatoid arthritis and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for depression with sleep disturbance, to include as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right shoulders as well as knees, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right shoulders as well as knees, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and remanded the claim of service connection for type 1 diabetes mellitus (diabetes). The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and rheumatoid arthritis have been granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to the need for further evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of headaches due to inadequate compliance with previous directives, need for a VA examination related to TERA exposure, and need for an opinion regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip during the appeal period. Therefore, he is not eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and the claims for TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective December 3, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis because no new and relevant evidence was submitted since the February 2024 Board Decision.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for compensation was correctly calculated at 40 percent from November 15, 2020. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility under the PCAFC program due to his ability to perform activities of daily living and lack of need for personal care services.

The Board denied service connection for a recurrent multi-joint and muscle disability, including CFS, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or secondary to service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), asthma, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied housebound status and TBI-based SMC.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the downstream issue of assigning initial ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,Effective May 18, 2009, separate ratings are granted for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for a neck condition, including claims of neck rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for compensation due to rheumatoid arthritis under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied as the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.,The Veteran's claim for compensation due to anemia under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded for further development and consideration.