Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 10, 2014 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date was February 10, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was also denied as it should correspond to the effective dates for service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete or inaccurate medical opinions regarding service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional clarification and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, worsening of symptoms since the last examination, and need for additional medical opinions regarding right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The claim for service connection of a right hip disability is reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to need for further evaluation and evidence collection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and other conditions. The appeals are now remanded to determine whether service connection can be established.

The Board has ordered a new opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated any of his immediate causes of death, and if so, whether it contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for Grave's disease with hyperthyroidism and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his autoimmune conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the right wrist, as well as its relationship to his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture with degenerative changes and loss of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand and foot disabilities to include rheumatoid arthritis due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran served in Southwest Asia, where he was exposed to burn pit toxins.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination opinions regarding the Veteran's arthritis, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis of multiple joints. New medical opinions are needed from a rheumatologist or physician.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 11, 2016.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 1, 2012. Prior to that date, the evidence does not support his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle and joint pain, including rheumatoid arthritis, due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, emotional problems, and lower extremity problems due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain with DJD and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to August 5, 2014.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and residuals of a fracture of the left distal tibia and fibula with varus deformity and left ankle fracture with limitation of motion and left knee condition with arthritis, as well as an increase in rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The appeal seeking SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance was granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted from February 7, 2014, as he had a combined rating of 60% for his service-connected disabilities. The decision acknowledges that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected low back disability and associated radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2016 rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.