Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches were granted effective July 30, 2015. The claim for service connection of bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. Claims for cervical strain and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA opinions and a need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's radiculopathy involves the femoral nerve, as well as its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for buttocks pain, rectal dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, non-union left elbow chip fracture with resolution of elbow effusion and osteoarthritis associated with history of lumbosacral strain with disk herniation at L4-5 and L5-S1 and DDD, and left shoulder strain have all been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip numbness, left hip numbness, a disability of the right foot toes, a disability of the left foot toes, a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, hypertension, SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, and an effective date prior to August 20, 2002 have been remanded.

The Veteran's son A. was recognized as a helpless child for VA purposes, and the effective date of February 5, 2013, is granted for additional dependency benefits based on this recognition.

The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to herbicide agent exposure and remanded the claim for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for a bilateral foot disability to obtain additional medical evidence and verify the Veteran's service dates.

The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining a medical opinion and associating relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neurobehavioral effects and pancolitis due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune are denied.,Service connection for other rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of multiple sites (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) is remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to ensure compliance with its prior directives and correct pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for a lung disability on a facts-found basis, but the issues of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis remain remanded due to outstanding National Guard treatment records.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is granted as service-connected, with the condition likely related to in-service exposure to burn pits. The other issues are remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and left knee due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2018. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, right foot disability, left foot disability, and right shoulder disability are denied. TDIU is granted effective July 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that his current heart conditions were related to his active-duty service or any other service-connected disability.