Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, an eye disability, and rheumatoid arthritis, all claimed as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as well as her claims for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its related conditions. The decision also noted that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown during active duty service, within one year of discharge, and are not related to service or toxic herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to January 30, 2004 and remains rated at 10 percent from that date forward.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his timely substantive appeal was not filed within 60 days of the March 2007 statement of the case or within one year of the August 2006 notification of the determination being appealed.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims for increased ratings for various elbow and ankle disabilities.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, or rheumatoid arthritis began during his military service.,There is no medical evidence of a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding its onset during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date for his right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to afford her the opportunity for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claims for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as his TDIU claim, have been granted. His increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis fibromatosis has also been granted with a 20% evaluation effective October 28, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and thoracic strain were granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent, effective July 31, 2009. Service connection for bilateral reduction mammoplasties with scars was also granted. However, service connection for heart palpitations/chest pain was denied.

The Board has determined that the Appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly death pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to her disabilities.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed due to his service-connected interstitial lung disease, which the Board finds may be related to his rheumatoid arthritis. The case must be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis on the basis of aggravation, but denied reopening of the claim for rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD as part of a separate issue.