The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis of bilateral upper extremities, and osteoarthritis of bilateral lower extremities. The claims are therefore reopened. Further evaluation is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's compensation claim for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis of bilateral upper extremities, and osteoarthritis of bilateral lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bilateral upper extremities to include wrist, hands, fingers, and elbows, osteoarthritis, bilateral lower extremities to include ankles, knees, feet, and hips, vitiligo
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21073858
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 21073858.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or as a result of a disease or injury in active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for blackouts and fainting spells, a bilateral foot condition, and rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
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