Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding reductions in disability evaluations and denials of higher evaluations for lumbosacral spondylosis, DDD of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is causally linked to his military service and presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the condition worsened during active duty and presuming aggravation. The Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, requiring further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee condition is related to her service-connected right knee condition or if it causes additional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for RA prior to August 27, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5002 due to the lack of severe impairment or incapacitating exacerbations occurring four or more times a year.

Your claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded because we need to obtain your Social Security Administration records and you have not completed the necessary forms.,Your claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are also being remanded due to incomplete forms. We need you to complete and return VA Forms 21-8940 and 21-4192.,Your TDIU claim is being remanded because we need you to cooperate in obtaining evidence needed to adjudicate your claims, including completing the necessary forms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to discrepancies in her active duty dates and outstanding medical records. The issues include back disability, depression, vertigo, migraines, bilateral wrist pain, right foot disability, and left eye disability.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 22, 2015 to August 9, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. For the earlier period, he did not meet the criteria.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the condition is not causally related to military service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment status and lack of completed VA Form 21-8940. The Veteran is currently employed as a full-time mental health and certified substance use disorder counselor for six years, but further details are needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis, a respiratory disability (including asthma and obstructive chronic bronchitis), and left eye amblyopia have been granted. The appeals are remanded for further development regarding other issues.

The Board has found the VA examinations and opinions to be incomplete due to a lack of consideration of exposure to burn pits during service. The Veteran's claim is remanded for another examination that addresses his lay assertions of continued symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left and right foot disabilities, including whether they are related to service or aggravated by her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the issues related to his service-connected conditions, including bruxism (claimed as teeth grinding), migraine headaches, PTSD, lumbar strain, reactive airway disease, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral knees, tinnitus, restless leg syndrome, left elbow chronic epicondylitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, status-post right 4th metacarpal fracture, bilateral shin splints, erectile dysfunction, scars on the bilateral knees and left elbow, right great toe onychomycosis, and acne.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension have been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia (abnormal fat disposition), hypertension, glucose intolerance, anemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, fatty liver disease, splenomegaly, right groin muscle strain, RLE varicose veins, LLE varicose veins, and RLE venous insufficiency are all being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, claimed as joint pain, was denied because the evidence did not establish a nexus between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,A rating of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, right shoulder strain, and right knee strain due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including gout, pes planus, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is remanded due to incomplete opinions in the previous VA examination. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.