Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for hyperhidrosis, a psychiatric disability with anxiety and insomnia, a heart condition, bronchial asthma, and rheumatism, to include rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence received since the March and May 2000 rating decisions did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disability, which he claims as rheumatoid arthritis. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and mild emphysema, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to decide the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the thoracic spine.

The Board found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis during service or within one year post-service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for service connection for anemia with rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy, chronic dysentery, beriberi, malnutrition, and helminthiasis as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence. The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension was also denied due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has decided to grant an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis from 40 percent to a higher evaluation, based on the current medical evidence and the need for further examination.