Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disabilities, finding that his current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected right foot drop and right knee disabilities. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip, low back, and left lower extremity disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance moots his claim for housebound status.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities were also granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and clarification of the Veteran's claims. The issues include right ankle, swollen joints (including rheumatoid arthritis and nerve damage), and initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in the June 1969 decision, and entitlement to an earlier effective date for SMC based on complete loss of use of the left upper extremity is not met. The temporary total evaluation for convalescence following surgery of the right elbow is granted, but the increase in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the right elbow from September 24, 2014, to December 16, 2019 and the increase in excess of 30 percent for impairment of supination and pronation of the right elbow from September 24, 2014, to December 6, 2016 are denied. The 50 percent rating for intermediate ankylosis at an angle between 70 and 50 degrees for the right elbow as of December 17, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for fibromyalgia was denied, and her TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 28, 2015. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD, and for various ratings related to rheumatoid arthritis of the hands. The earlier effective date claims were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA medical opinion to determine if his current hip conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition, and whether any currently diagnosed bilateral hip disability was caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since August 15, 2020. The effective date for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted as June 10, 2019. Right lower extremity radiculopathy was not shown until the August 15, 2019 VA examination.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to August 15, 2020 and denied for a higher rating since then.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and dismissed the appeal of service connection for toxic chemical exposure. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and clarification of diagnoses. The Veteran is seeking service connection for psoriatic arthritis, which may be related to his rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes and rheumatoid arthritis, left hip, have been granted a rating of 60 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and toxic exposure during service, specifically Gulf War deployment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and acetabular cyst status post total hip replacement, osteoarthritis or unspecified joints, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, compromised immune system, fever sores, and enlarged liver. The remand requires additional development to address the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during his duties as a missile crewman.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbosacral strain with IVDS, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The current ratings are 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in the May 2023 decision, and a new addendum opinion is needed to address the Veteran's arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis due to the need for a VA examination. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also being deferred pending resolution of the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of informed decision-making regarding the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, specifically related to genetic components and family history.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right thigh injury. The rating assigned is 20% for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current arthritis conditions and his active duty service or as due to his conceded Agent Orange exposure.