Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The claims for left collar bone impairment, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and right elbow olecranon bursitis with arthritis are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, TTD, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions in the April 2023 addendum. The Veteran's right hip disability is being recharacterized as secondary to psoriatic arthritis.

The Board found that the appellant's osteoarthritis of the bilateral legs was not caused by VA care or treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II and obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection is granted for GERD. The Veteran's right upper quadrant pain (to include residuals of gallbladder removal) and skin condition are also service connected due to exposure to burn pits in Somalia, while generalized arthritis is presumed based on Gulf War Service.,The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, cataracts, and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss was related to service. The decision on this issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a painful joint disorder (likely rheumatoid arthritis), right hand disorders, back disorders, and right knee disorders. The Board finds that further development is needed in these areas.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for a new evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issues of TDIU and SMC based on regular aid and attendance are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.

The Veteran's headache disability, rheumatoid arthritis with fevers and chills, and cystoid macular edema, ocular hypertension, and chorioretinal scarring with cataracts are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and right hip disability due to a lack of adequate rationale in previous VA opinions and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS are rated at 20 percent, effective September 1, 2009. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that her education and work history did not support a conclusion that she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and service connection issues are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The specific issues include rating adjustments, service connection determinations, and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar strain and service connection for radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis and colon cancer, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding medical records and request authorization from the Veteran for release of private treatment records.