Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis, as neither condition developed in service or is otherwise causally related to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an effective date prior to November 22, 2005 for grant of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to a lack of evidence showing she filed a claim before that date.

The Board has granted service connection for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, finding that the veteran's condition is related to his active military service and supported by evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea during the Vietnam era.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for service-connected rheumatoid arthritis, as there is no current active process or chronic residuals of rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran's symptoms are attributed to osteoarthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to her conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current rheumatoid arthritis is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency treatment at Massena Memorial Hospital on December 23, 2005 are denied as he is covered by Medicare and thus ineligible for VA reimbursement.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain service treatment records from the veteran's first period of active duty (1978-1982) and verify his periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training. The RO is also requested to seek treatment records from Reality Healthcare, specifically from 1996 to 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disorder, diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, is related to his service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and a rating in excess of 20 percent for rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran did not meet the criteria to establish current diagnoses or show that his conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low sperm count and rheumatoid arthritis, finding no evidence of radiation exposure or current disabilities.

The Board has vacated its June 2008 decision and remanded the claims for further action due to lack of due process.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nummular eczema, rheumatoid arthritis with polyarthralgia, and polymyalgia due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis/rhinitis. The claims of service connection for a heart disorder and rheumatoid arthritis were denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional examinations.

The Board finds a preponderance of the evidence against the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and hypertension. These conditions were not incurred or linked to service in any way.

The veteran's appeal on his claim for an increased evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of the nature and extent of his current arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the hands and feet was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to be. The claim for service connection was denied.