Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's lung disability (COPD, emphysema) and rheumatoid arthritis are granted as service connected. The claim for secondary service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral arm and hand conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis affecting the shoulders, hands, and wrists, as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and radiculopathy (claimed as residuals from left knee injury) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals, including rotator cuff tendinitis, are granted. The left shoulder disability and weight gain issues remain pending for further evaluation. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and neck injury residuals ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TMJ was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for GERD, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis in the bilateral hands, lumbago, anxiety, headaches, and dizzy spells are all denied.,The Board has determined that there is no current disability related to these conditions and they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or diagnosis within a year of separation and concluding that RA is not related to herbicide exposure or other chemical agents.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, diabetes mellitus type II, and rheumatoid arthritis. The cases are remanded to further develop evidence related to these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a dental condition, RA, and frostbite residuals to the face. The claims are now remanded for further development.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and a 60% rating is granted for rheumatoid arthritis from April 29, 2002.,A 100% rating for rheumatoid arthritis is granted as of March 13, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, myeloproliferative disorder, hyperparathyroidism, an autoimmune disease other than ulcerative colitis, and kidney stones have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his left knee disability and hypothyroidism. The Board finds a need to obtain clarification of the etiology of the Veteran’s reported symptoms and their relationship, if any, to his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The issues of increased evaluation for lumbar disc herniation at L4-S1 and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from retaining substantially gainful employment as of January 12, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, finding that it was not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for RA of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle are all denied. A separate 10% rating is granted for RA of the right hand. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU prior to October 3, 2014 were also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, immune system condition (multiple infections), enlarged prostate, testicle condition, and eye condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for scleroderma, neck disability, and rheumatoid arthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record.