Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis originated during his military service and granted him service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and left knee laxity are not well-grounded, as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of heart murmur, residuals of cold injury, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative joint disease. The appeals are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple conditions, including a shrapnel wound to the right leg, pulmonary tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, poor visual acuity, hearing loss, beriberi with neuritis, and nutritional deficiency. The decision also addressed the veteran's claim for former prisoner of war (POW) status for VA benefits.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been granted. Service connection has been established for a low back disorder and multiple joints disorder, both presumed to be due to undiagnosed illnesses. The right shoulder sprain with degenerative joint disease is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the spine, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim will now be evaluated on its merits.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities has been established, resulting in the grant of special monthly pension based on this need.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lower back disorder due to new evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for agoraphobia with panic attacks, linked to an in-service incident.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his service, to include on a presumptive basis, or on the basis of aggravation.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether her pre-existing conditions worsened during service.

The Board found that the evidence submitted by the appellant did not meet the criteria for reopening her claim of service connection for cause of death, as it was not new and material. The veteran's cause of death was a pulmonary embolism due to arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding no evidence of its onset during active military service or within a year after separation.

The VA has determined that a higher rating for the veteran's right ankle strain is not warranted based on current evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is denied as she does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if there is a link between the veteran's service and his cause of death.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Reiter's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and conjunctivitis. The decision found that there was no current manifestation of Reiter's syndrome, and that the criteria for a compensable evaluation were not met for rheumatoid arthritis or conjunctivitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, hands, and ankles, as well as a claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of the right little finger. The veteran's arthritis is found to be due to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.