Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations and medical nexus opinions to determine if his OSA, RA, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), GERD, lung disease, and gastrointestinal disabilities are a combined MUCMI or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right ankle disability were denied due to lack of new and material evidence within the appeal period.,An effective date prior to May 1, 2020, was not granted for the Veteran's service-connected back disability as it was determined that the claim had been previously denied in August 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and right foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.

The Veteran's low back disability, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in the June 1969 decision, and entitlement to an earlier effective date for SMC based on complete loss of use of the left upper extremity is not met. The temporary total evaluation for convalescence following surgery of the right elbow is granted, but the increase in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the right elbow from September 24, 2014, to December 16, 2019 and the increase in excess of 30 percent for impairment of supination and pronation of the right elbow from September 24, 2014, to December 6, 2016 are denied. The 50 percent rating for intermediate ankylosis at an angle between 70 and 50 degrees for the right elbow as of December 17, 2019 is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right ankle and swollen joints (to include rheumatoid arthritis and nerve damage), as well as an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,Clarification is needed regarding the Veteran's claim for swollen joints, which may be related to a systemic arthritis or possibly aggravated by pes planus. The Board also seeks clarification on what disability is being claimed on appeal.,The case of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss (BHL) disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and dismissed the appeal of service connection for toxic chemical exposure. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes and rheumatoid arthritis, left hip, have been granted a rating of 60 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and toxic exposure during service, specifically Gulf War deployment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and acetabular cyst status post total hip replacement, osteoarthritis or unspecified joints, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, compromised immune system, fever sores, and enlarged liver. The remand requires additional development to address the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during his duties as a missile crewman.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbosacral strain with IVDS, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The current ratings are 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in the previous decision, and a new addendum opinion is needed to address the Veteran's arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis due to the need for a VA examination. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also being deferred pending resolution of the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of informed decision regarding the genetic component of rheumatoid arthritis and the need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right thigh injury. The rating assigned is 20% for the lumbar spine disability.