Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions of rheumatoid arthritis and ulcer disease were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The appeal is denied.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues and new evidence. The appeal is currently on hold for additional review.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of supporting medical evidence and incomplete records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for seronegative rheumatoid arthritis with muscle stiffness and rashes, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection based on Persian Gulf Service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's current bilateral knee condition, including his history of Reiter's syndrome and osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the hands, to include rheumatoid arthritis of the hands as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran currently suffers from these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's wrist and finger disability is not service-connected, but granted a 30% rating for his thyroidectomy residuals. The hip disability issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran had rheumatoid arthritis during active service and again in 1996, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints including the back, neck, and bilateral knees, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service, but also found that the veteran's conditions did not pre-exist service or were aggravated by service.

The Board granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder. The veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the appellant's current lumbar spine disability and rheumatoid arthritis are related to her active service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the RO for these actions.

The Board has awarded a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, finding that his episodes of severe pain and swelling in his hands and wrists are productive of definite impairment of health.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete medical records and requests a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's death and service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and low back disability, finding that the conditions did not originate in or were aggravated by military service.