Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle and joint pain is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions. Additionally, a TERA exam is required to determine if the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is related to his participation in toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 17, 2007 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,An initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability characterized as insomnia disorder with non-sleep disorder, mental comorbidity, and medical comorbidity, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral hands is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability characterized as degenerative disc disease and stenosis of the lumbar spine, status post lumbosacral strain, is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral flat feet, calcaneal spurs, lumbar spondylolysis L5 with spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities), tinnitus, and hiatal hernia, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 11, 2023. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for TMJ disorder/jaw osteoarthritis and remanded the claims for systemic rheumatoid arthritis and left foot osteoarthritis. The latter two claims are inextricably intertwined with the service connection for TMJ disorder/jaw osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found the VA examinations inadequate and requested additional medical opinions on whether his conditions are related to his service or service-connected disabilities, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The claim for Vitamin D deficiency has been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for low back disability, and an initial evaluation of 10 percent is assigned for hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right hand little finger disability, as well as his claims for service connection for knee disorders and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination in order to provide this information.,VA will also need to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral legs, and several other conditions have been granted. The effective dates are set based on the date of new evidence received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and need for additional VA examination. The issues of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease of the joints, neck disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and bilateral hip disorder are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and its complications, have prevented her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as new and material evidence was not received, despite the submission of medical treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to confusion regarding the date of a positive ANA test result, which is necessary to determine whether lupus was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, diagnosed as bilateral multifocal lung parenchymal scarring with several calcified and noncalcified nodules, is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. Service connection for a respiratory disorder is granted. The issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and low back disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability (to include rheumatoid arthritis), gout, acid reflux, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and insomnia), and hypertension are all remanded due to inadequate development of evidence.