The Veteran's rating for rheumatoid arthritis was restored from a reduced 40% to the original 60%. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis affecting his hips and hands. The low back disorder is also found to be related to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hip and hand symptoms caused by his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis have been shown to cause functional impairment, including an altered gait which contributed to his unemployment.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatoid arthritis, depressive disorder NOS, generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1529753
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1529753.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and neck pain, finding no current disability. The claim for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate consideration of all potential exposures.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also remanded due to a lack of development of the Veteran's therapist's records.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hepatic steatosis have been denied. The claim for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.
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