The Board granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral lower and upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis but denied higher ratings for the right ankle sprain and a compensable rating for tuberculosis.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported at least one to two exacerbations per year, warranting a 20 percent rating under DC 5002. However, there was no evidence of symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health or incapacitating exacerbations more than three times a year, which would have warranted a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral lower extremity rheumatoid arthritis, Bilateral upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis, Right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, Residuals of tuberculosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25104391
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