Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was initially rated at 40% prior to February 11, 2009 and since then has been rated at 80%. The Board found that the criteria for both ratings have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been rated at 40 percent combined, resulting in a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing formal notice of the information and evidence necessary to reopen his service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities or a right shoulder disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for lymphogranuloma venereum, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records, personnel records, and examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy in the lower extremity is not related to his period of service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis due to herbicide exposure, and did not address the claim for earlier payment start date of nonservice-connected pension and special monthly pension.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Veteran is in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly pension benefits based on this need.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the Veteran's claims, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical opinions. The appeal involves multiple issues arising from different rating decisions spanning over two decades.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and the initial compensable evaluations for right knee and left knee disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral foot injury residuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as a bilateral ankle disorder due to foot injuries with osteoarthritis. The Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and right shoulder disability are being reviewed to determine if they are related to her service, with a focus on whether the conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board granted initial ratings of 10 percent for the cervical spine and 20 percent for the thoracolumbar spine due to rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to have had its onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for arthritis, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The evidence shows that the Veteran had a pre-existing arthritis condition prior to his entry into active duty, which was aggravated by military service.