Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and hip disabilities, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and associated radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity have been rated at 20 percent since August 10, 2009. The initial rating remains unchanged from a previous 10 percent rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's left knee rheumatoid arthritis with synovitis has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee injury was denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 20, 2011 and granted a 20% rating as of that date. The Veteran's scleroderma with rheumatoid arthritis was initially denied but later granted a 60% rating effective September 23, 2011.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as the prior examination report was inadequate and did not address the impact of his service-connected disabilities in combination on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his rheumatoid arthritis and stomach disorder are related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address the service connection claims, including a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and for further development, including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Vivas and any relevant state disability retirement records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's current bilateral foot disorder is related to his active duty for training. A new VA examination is required to determine if any current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disorder, including polyarthralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and Sjogren's Syndrome, is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an unidentified autoimmune disorder or rheumatoid inflammation, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for COPD, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted effective June 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis throughout the appeal period, warranting only a 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the National Guard and to obtain any personnel records. The appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis will be remanded for a VA examination to determine if his current condition was aggravated by his ACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran currently has rheumatoid arthritis but did not develop it during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a connection between the current condition and service.