Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran currently suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is related to her service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, chronic headache disorder, and a disorder producing memory loss.

The Board has found that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was not submitted, and thus denied the reopening of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing original claims folder and incomplete medical records. The veteran's SSA disability benefits claim is also under review.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders. However, the claims are still denied as there is no clear evidence of service origin or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was incurred during his period of active duty for training, and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for chronic multiple rheumatoid arthritis, finding no current residuals of rheumatoid arthritis that would provide a basis for an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and suggests its association with symptoms experienced during service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lower back, prostatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand and wrist disabilities due to incomplete development. The RO/AMC is instructed to verify whether or not the veteran is receiving disability benefits from SSA and obtain any relevant medical documentation.

The Board found that rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fluid retention were not incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased rating and service connection. The RO confirmed the current 40% rating for his right knee disorder, but denied service connection for cervical strain and multiple other conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hand and wrist disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, synovitis of multiple joints (knees, hands, left hip, and low back), and degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The veteran's service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of both wrists and the right ankle was restored to a 10% rating, effective from August 1984. The veteran is seeking service connection for additional joints or degenerative arthritis.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis and entitlement to a TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis or its residuals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis is currently asymptomatic and does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating. The claim was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for rheumatoid arthritis. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic disability related to service. For rheumatoid arthritis, the Board found that while the condition is currently present, it does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule.