Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals for rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus type II service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis affecting the shoulders, hands, and wrists, as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lung disability (COPD, emphysema) and rheumatoid arthritis are granted as service connected. The claim for secondary service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and radiculopathy (claimed as residuals from left knee injury) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, and the conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or diagnosis within a year of separation and concluding that RA is not caused by exposure to herbicide or other chemical agents.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a dental condition, RA, and frostbite residuals to the face. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, diabetes mellitus type II, and rheumatoid arthritis. The cases are remanded to further develop evidence related to these issues.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and a 60% rating is granted for rheumatoid arthritis from April 29, 2002.,A 100% rating for rheumatoid arthritis is granted as of March 13, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The issues of increased rating for lumbar disc herniation at L4-S1 and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand, finding that it was not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of January 12, 2013 for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from retaining substantially gainful employment.