Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's gout warranted a 40 percent rating, effective from August 2004 when clinical records documented 3 or more incapacitating exacerbations of gout per year.

The case is being remanded to obtain the exact dates of the veteran's Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) while serving in the Tennessee National Guard. The veteran has not provided this information, and VA must pursue it until a responsible custodian reports they are unavailable or that further effort would be futile.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence that diabetes mellitus or rheumatoid arthritis caused his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for disorders of the arms, hands, feet, elbows, and knees as secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and claw hand disorder, finding that new evidence submitted since the final denial is sufficient to reopen the case. The claims are now pending before the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple joint pain as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and right shoulder impingement, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The claim for right shoulder impingement remains pending as it was granted by analogy under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and fusiform changes of the proximal interphalangeal joints is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, based on current objective findings and symptoms.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and did not address the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, left ear hearing loss, and rheumatoid arthritis as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death (cardiac arrest) and rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran's cardiac condition was not shown to be related to his military service, while there is no evidence that rheumatoid arthritis caused or contributed to the veteran's death.

The VA has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, as currently diagnosed and rated, does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, but the underlying claim remains denied as there is no causal relationship between the condition and active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, fatigue manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bleeding in the stomach, subdural hematoma (claimed as hematosis), and wrist, ankle, neck, elbow, and knee disorders were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for fatigue and headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis had its onset during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis existed prior to service and was not aggravated by her 21/2 months of active military service. The right foot condition is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 60 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's service connection claims for pulmonary tuberculosis, malaria, rheumatoid arthritis with lumbago, and polyneuritis with neuralgia. As such, these claims remain denied.