Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis with numbness of the extremities and a lumbar disorder. The veteran's current medical conditions are being considered in light of his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The issues were related to bilateral ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board found that the appellant did not suffer additional injury/disability as a result of VA surgery in June 1986, and thus denied his claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's gout with rheumatoid arthritis is rated at 60 percent, and his hemorrhoids are not separately rated as they are part of the same disability.

The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death in December 1983, and this decision became final. The appellant did not file a new claim until April 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatoid arthritis warrants a 40 percent rating, as his symptoms are primarily related to his low back and hands.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing loss or rheumatoid arthritis related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The left ankle disorder is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that there is no current medical evidence of rheumatoid arthritis and the medical evidence does not show that osteoarthritis was incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's current osteoarthritis is unrelated to his military service.

The November 1988 rating decision denying an increased evaluation for rheumatoid arthritis of the sacroiliac joints was upheld as correct based on the evidence at that time.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, skin rash, low back condition, sleep disorder, lung condition with shortness of breath, and rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary relationship to service.

The veteran's death was due to his service-connected conditions, and he required the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board found that the criteria for payment of accrued benefits based on a claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation were met.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of medical expenses incurred during his inpatient hospital stay at a non-VA facility was denied as he had not sufficiently stabilized to be transferred to a VA medical facility by February 26, 1999.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service-connection for cause of death, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, finding no evidence of current disabilities due to these conditions.