Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not productive of more than a 40 percent evaluation, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The appeal is remanded to obtain SSA records and arrange for a VA examination regarding the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as they were not related to the veteran's military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board finds that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, including deformity of the hands, and sleep apnea are due to disease or injury incurred in active service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of teeth and rheumatoid arthritis of the chest, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for loss of teeth and that there was no evidence linking either condition to active service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating, while his thoracic spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities were each granted 10 percent ratings. Service connection for lumbar spine and joint pains was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis/rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of his hepatitis C and any secondary service connection claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, effective as of April 1, 1999.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient information regarding his in-country service in Vietnam. The case will be reviewed again after additional research is conducted.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic right ankle disability and did not reopen the previously denied claim of rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to her active service and have denied all of her claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining National Guard records. The veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as it has neither been productive of three or more incapacitating exacerbations per year nor definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings; and is not compensable due to limited motion of the right shoulder, right elbow, or spine.

The Board finds that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is warranted. Service connection for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or association with service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was totally incapacitating prior to February 25, 1997.