Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records from Martinsburg, West Virginia VAMC.

The Board found that the appellant's current back, shoulder, foot, and hand disabilities did not manifest during his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and are not etiologically related to service. As such, service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the reductions in rating were proper and that the criteria for higher ratings had not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his low back and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran has not had a systemic arthritic disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis, during the pendency of this claim and therefore denied service connection for such disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for left shoulder rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and spleen, gall bladder, and pancreas removal are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that diabetes mellitus did not manifest during or within one year of separation from active service and was not caused by active service. Hyperlipidemia is considered a laboratory result rather than a disability. The other conditions were also not found to have manifested during service or be causally related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, of all joints was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 17, 1998 for a 100% disability evaluation for service-connected rheumatoid arthritis. The decision is final as of December 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a multiple joint-related disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of the bilateral knees and ankles, claimed as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and need for clarification regarding her diagnoses.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to his cause of death. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is also inextricably intertwined and will be remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to the departure of the Acting Veterans Law Judge who conducted the August 2012 videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for DJD of the left knee, status post total knee replacement. The evidence shows that the Veteran sustained a shrapnel injury to his leg in service and experienced ongoing left knee pain since then. His current diagnosis of DJD is related to his military service.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, specifically rheumatic arthritis, rheumatic heart disease, and rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the knees was denied. For his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hands and wrists, he is granted a 10% rating for each hand and wrist, but not higher.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.