Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including psoriasis. The issue of whether his arthritis is secondary to his skin disorder remains pending and will be addressed in conjunction with this decision.

The Veteran has current rheumatoid arthritis that began in service, and the Board finds his reports of joint pain symptoms beginning in service to be credible. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee with degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid pulmonary nodules, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis in service or within one year thereafter, and the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms were not credible. Therefore, service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to verify the Veteran's service dates and to schedule her for VA examinations to determine if her current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is likely to have had its onset during his active duty. The issue of service connection for asthma remains pending and will be addressed in a future remand.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of a right hip replacement is being remanded to the RO due to procedural issues and potential development needs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any joint disability and psychiatric disability. The case will be reviewed again after all necessary development has been completed.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was proper, and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hip disability, pulmonary disability, left elbow disability, and heart disability (secondary to DDD of the lumbar spine) have been granted. The Veteran's combined rating remains at 40%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient rationale in a February 2009 medical opinion. The case is now before the Board for readjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and for increased ratings for his right inguinal hernia and PTSD. The claim for service connection was based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but the Board found no medical evidence establishing a relationship between current rheumatoid arthritis and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip disorder and rheumatoid arthritis are not related to his service-connected disabilities, including residuals of status-post pelvic fractures and major depressive disorder. The Board determined that these conditions are more likely due to post-service factors such as alcoholism and prednisone use.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is service-connected and rated 100 percent. He received unauthorized private medical treatment at Mercy Medical Center on April 6, 2007 for pneumonia of the right upper lobe. VA facilities were feasibly available to provide the care required, and there was no indication that a delay in seeking treatment would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed lumbar spine disorder or residuals of iritis, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted a 60 percent rating effective June 20, 2006. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathies have also been granted increased ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent respectively from March 7, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and rheumatoid arthritis due to additional development being required, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and low back disability, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis (bilateral feet) is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records.