Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, is not related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the obtaining of treatment records.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective June 19, 2012.

The Veteran's claimed rheumatoid arthritis was not shown to have had its onset during service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service. The Board finds that service connection for rheumatoid arthritis involving the shoulders, elbows, hands, and ankles cannot be granted.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the lack of VA treatment records, including from the Salisbury VAMC. The Veteran's claim for reopening his rheumatoid arthritis service connection is being remanded.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint arthritis, a lung disease, and a disability manifested by chronic fatigue. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and right shoulder disability. The claim was also denied for TDIU prior to February 16, 2012.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was not shown to be related to service or any incident therein, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's lung disorders, including rheumatoid nodules and pulmonary vascular disease, are not related to his military service or any in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of tendonitis and rheumatoid arthritis of the right arm, wrist, and elbow. The appeals were based on a lack of in-service injury or disease, no continuity of symptoms since separation from service, and no evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been increased to 80 percent, and several original service connection claims are pending. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and gout are granted as the closest VA facility did not have an emergency room, and a reasonable lay person would consider the condition emergent.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, or a respiratory disability that was caused by his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder and neck disabilities, and left index finger disabilities. The Veteran appealed only the denial of reopening of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including verification of all periods of Army Reserve service and obtaining complete service personnel records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 18, 2008. The evidence does not support a finding of total social and occupational impairment due to PTSD.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis has been rated at 40 percent since October 11, 2011. The rating is based on the current manifestations of his disability and does not involve any presumption or secondary service connection.