Rheumatoid arthritis Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year of his military service. The current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a chronic disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor is there evidence to support a presumption of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, was not incurred in or due to his active service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of Dr. C.H.'s submissions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective as of April 30, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, finding no current disability. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as her combined rating of 90% supports this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and myalgia, is related to his period of active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for urinary incontinence and denied for presbyopia. The remaining issues are addressed below.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, as well as his requests for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and no competent medical evidence suggesting a relationship to military service. The skin cancer issue remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand, wrist, foot, and left foot disabilities have been rated based on the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. The ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral arm and hand conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of his death (respiratory failure due to pneumonia) is not linked to his military service. The Veteran did not require aid and attendance solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of engaging in sedentary employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability associated with a left knee strain, including arthritis of the hip and pelvis and a left hip strain, is granted. The effective date will be determined based on when entitlement to this benefit arose.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development including obtaining medical records, scheduling VA examinations for her left knee and left hip disabilities, and reviewing the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left shoulder disability and increased rating for his right shoulder disability. The Veteran's left shoulder condition is not related to service or service-connected conditions, while his right shoulder disability warrants no more than a 20 percent rating since February 26, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for obesity, claimed as secondary to a service-connected back disability due to additional development being needed.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the elbows, and degenerative arthritis of the knees as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is presumed to have been caused by exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The remaining conditions are being remanded for further examination and determination of service connection.