Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis affecting multiple bilateral joints and a rheumatoid lung condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran opting-in to the modernized appeal system.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine condition, erectile dysfunction as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of fracture of left mandible, postoperative.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within the presumptive period. The left ear hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is remanded for further review due to conflicting information regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and PTSD has been dismissed. The effective date for service connection of depressive disorder is denied, as the claim was received within one year of separation from service.,A TDIU rating prior to February 9, 2018, based on the combined effect of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder, has been granted.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome with xerostomia, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia. Service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing both theories raised by the Appellant.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion are inadequate, and thus remands the case for further development including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity disability, excluding rheumatoid arthritis, pre-existed service and was aggravated by service. The claim will be further evaluated with an addendum opinion from a rheumatologist.

The Board denied increased ratings for headaches and service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 50% since August 4, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his mobility issues are compensated by the assigned ratings for his disabilities.

The Veteran's autoimmune disorders, including Sjgren's disease, Raynaud's syndrome, scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and anemia, are found to have begun during her service. Her esophageal motility disorder is also found to be related to her service-connected autoimmune disorders.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and insomnia due to insufficient evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations for mood disorder, left shoulder degenerative joint disease and impingement with impairment of the humerus status-post SLAP repair and debridement, right shoulder sprain, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, asthma, right wrist degenerative joint disease, erectile dysfunction, degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand index finger, maxillary sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L5-S1, left testicular varicocele with right testicular pain and tenderness, restless leg syndrome, and traumatic brain injury are being remanded.

The Veteran's kidney disability is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension, while his rheumatoid arthritis remains denied due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.