Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The veteran's employment as a full-time teacher, consistent with the training received under Chapter 31, is considered to be in line with his rehabilitation objectives and he has been placed in 'rehabilitated' status.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of these disabilities in his service records and concluding that they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's immune disorder, also claimed as rheumatoid arthritis, is not related to active duty or exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of active disease and noting that the condition had been in remission for several years.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints to include the spine, shoulders, hips, ankles, and wrists, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected trapezitis of the left side of the back. The Board found that the veteran's arthritis was not present during service or for many years later and is not causally related to an incident of service or to his service-connected trapezitis.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, but further development is needed to decide on the merits of her claim.

The Board has determined that the cause of death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis is a result of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran was exposed to mustard gas in Bari, Italy during December 1943 and whether he developed any conditions related to that exposure. The appellant believes her husband's death may have been caused by his mustard gas exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and sinusitis as they are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected dermatophytosis of both feet, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no reliable evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran seeks a higher disability rating for his service-connected chronic multiple rheumatoid arthritis. The current 30 percent rating has been in effect since 1958 and cannot be reduced absent fraud. The RO is required to arrange for the veteran to undergo an examination by a rheumatologist to determine which joints, if any, have residual symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

The veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and the residuals of a bone marrow transplant were denied. The evaluation for the residuals of a left knee injury was also denied, but it was restored to 10 percent prior to November 1, 1998.

The veteran seeks service connection for a low back disorder with pain radiating into the right leg. The Board has ordered further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have any residuals of rheumatoid arthritis and concluded that an increased (compensable) rating for this condition is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and granted service connection for hypertension. The claims for chest pain disability, back disability, glaucoma, and rheumatoid arthritis are denied.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and gout, as well as for bilateral foot pain, ankle pain, elbow pain, neck pain, back pain, and headaches. The veteran's current disabilities were not shown to be related to his period of active duty.

The Board has ordered additional development of the evidence due to procedural concerns. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his rheumatoid arthritis of the right wrist and left ankle joints from July 28, 1998 is now pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, which is secondary to residuals of rheumatic fever, will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records and conducting an appropriate examination.