Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Veteran's gout of the bilateral ankle, bilateral foot and toes, and right knee is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated as 20 percent disabling; his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also rated as 20 percent disabling. Both conditions are granted a higher initial rating to 60 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he did not submit a completed VA Form 21-8940 to support his application, and there is no indication in the evidence of record that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown during or within one year after his military service, and there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right shoulder disorder, BUE radiculopathy, lumbar spine disorder, and BLE radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to uncertainty about whether his rheumatoid arthritis pre-existed service and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors, including a lack of a VA examination addressing the secondary service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in the VA examiners' opinions and other issues raised by the Court. The appellant asserts that rheumatoid arthritis may be related to service-connected residuals of a left femur fracture with left hip and left knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for spondylolysis of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) due to inadequate examination reports. The cases are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for urinary incontinence, RA, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy disorders, right foot skin disorder, left foot skin disorder, and right lower extremity disorder (metatarsalgia, hallux rigidus, shin splints) due to inadequate examination opinions. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, left hand, and left foot as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or were otherwise related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints due to conflicting medical opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as secondary to their service-connected collagenous colitis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral hand disability are related to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service combat-related injury and its impact on his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia (including fibromyositis), Lyme disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and osteoporosis due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a referral for aquatherapy to treat his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis has been dismissed because medical determinations are not within the Board's jurisdiction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and new theories of entitlement raised by the Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher rating, SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and information.