Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The veteran died from respiratory failure due to COPD, which was not caused by his service-connected psychoneurotic anxiety state. The Board denied the claim for service connection and also denied dependents' educational assistance benefits.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, finding no competent evidence establishing a relationship between the service-connected right knee disability and the subsequent development of arthritis in multiple joints.

The veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is currently active and results in pain, limitation of motion, fatigue, and difficulty performing daily activities. The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability more nearly approximates a 100 percent evaluation for an active condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, which is currently in remission and results in no current objective manifestations for VA purposes except slight flexion contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint of all fingers, warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, currently rated at 40 percent. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if a higher rating can be granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran knowingly presented false and fraudulent statements in support of his claims for service connection, leading to forfeiture of all VA benefits.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent evaluation.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, which was previously denied in 1989.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for rheumatoid arthritis, effective from April 4, 2000. The veteran's service-connected costochondritis of the costo-sternal junction is rated at 10 percent. The claim for allergic rhinitis was reopened and remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, right elbow disorder, and psychosis (paranoid schizophrenia) in April 1987. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the veteran's joint pain was related to his active duty service and considering it as a result of undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 4, 1995 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is not currently active and does not have any associated chronic residuals, thus denying his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of the veteran's scleroderma and associated conditions being incurred or aggravated during her active duty service, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder but granted a 60% rating for rheumatoid arthritis, sacroiliac joints and temporomandibular joint with ankylosing spondylitis, sacroiliitis and fibromyalgia.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis was denied by the Board as not well grounded in August 2000. The case was remanded, but the veteran canceled a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied the claim as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's application for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment was denied due to lack of loss of use of one or both feet, but he is eligible for adaptive equipment.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no active process and the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.