Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Veteran's autoimmune disorders, including Sjgren's disease, Raynaud's syndrome, scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and anemia, are found to have begun during her service. Her esophageal motility disorder is also found to be related to her service-connected autoimmune disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, chronic fatigue, back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin lesions remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and insomnia due to insufficient evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, a compensable evaluation for left testicular varicocele with right testicular pain and tenderness, an evaluation for restless leg syndrome, and service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

Entitlement to TDIU is granted from September 10, to November 20, 2012, and as of July 3, 2014. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment during these periods.,TDIU was denied prior to August 31, 2011, due to the Veteran's full-time employment at that time.

The Veteran's kidney disability is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension, but his rheumatoid arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss, upper back, lower back, acid reflux (GERD), respiratory disability, and hemorrhoids were denied service connection. Service connection for the disabilities of the upper and lower extremities was also denied.

The Veteran's epididymitis with hydrocele has been granted a noncompensable rating.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied and final claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hernia, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the bilateral upper extremities, as well as his claim for diabetes mellitus. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his unspecified mood disorder and a TDIU rating was granted. The Veteran now has a combined disability rating of 73 percent, with the mood disorder rated at 50 percent. His DDD is rated at 40 percent, and his radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the condition did not manifest during service and was not caused by exposure to Agent Orange or non-hodgkin's lymphoma. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right feet and ankles are denied, but she is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was caused by the flu shot administered in December 2012, and if so, whether it was due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted increased ratings, with a 40% rating for each condition from April 7, 2015 to November 18, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is related to her service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, allergy disability, and asthma due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient VA examination opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and needs further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease (IVDS), sciatica (right and left legs), and a scar on her right lumbar region, preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU for the periods specified.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the compensable disability rating for rheumatoid arthritis as there are no remaining issues to consider.