Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not service-connected. The case for both conditions is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, bilateral hip bursitis, and gout of the feet. The evidence shows that these conditions have been present since service or are related to service.

The Board granted a rating of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis in multiple joints, effective August 26, 2011, and remanded the issue of separate ratings for chronic residuals.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to limited range of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bronchitis has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating for hypothyroid endocrine dysfunction and a 10 percent rating for cholecystectomy. The cases of atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis are being remanded.

The claim for service connection for mixed hyperlipidemia was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, anemia, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disability were granted due to in-service noise exposure during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination, and now requires one to determine if the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is related to his in-service exposure to depleted uranium.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to April 4, 2013 prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment consistent with his educational background and employment history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 29, 2016 for the grant of TDIU. The evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for inflammatory polyarthropathy/ rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his condition and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability prior to June 14, 2011 and from June 14, 2011 to April 15, 2018. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the low back disability beginning April 15, 2018 is also remanded. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and an increased rating for migraine headaches due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate rating for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus associated with RA is currently rated at 10 percent and the VA examination did not adequately assess his flare-ups, but the preponderance of evidence still supports denying an increased rating.,The Veteran's bilateral thumbs associated with RA are currently rated at 10 percent and the VA examination did not provide sufficient information to support a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral index fingers associated with RA are currently rated at 10 percent and the VA examination did not provide sufficient information to support a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral long fingers associated with RA are currently rated at 10 percent and the VA examination did not provide sufficient information to support a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral ring fingers associated with RA are currently rated at noncompensable (0%) as there is no compensable schedular rating available.

The Board denied a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and headaches, finding insufficient evidence to resolve the claims. The Veteran is required to provide clarification regarding the onset of his rheumatoid arthritis and a VA examiner must determine whether it was incurred during ACDUTRA.

The request to reopen the claim for service connection for diverticulitis previously claimed as stomach condition (gastritis/pancreatitis) is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received for service connection for a knee condition, and the request to reopen the claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with sacroiliac injury, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.