Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2024

The Board found that the appellant's osteoarthritis of the bilateral legs was not caused by VA care or treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for a new evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss was related to service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess its severity. The issues of TDIU and SMC based on regular aid and attendance are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for a painful joint disorder (likely rheumatoid arthritis), right hand disorder, back disorder, and right knee disorder. The exposure basis for these conditions includes contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's service-connected right third finger disability requires further examination to determine the current manifestations and severity of his condition.,Service connection is being remanded for sleep apnea, heart attack, and hypertension due to potential contaminant exposure at Camp Lejeune and Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran has also testified that he may have been exposed to contaminated water in Okinawa while handling radios from Vietnam.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death prior to adjudication.

The Board granted the application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis based on new and material evidence, but remanded the matter for further development.

The Veteran's headache disability, rheumatoid arthritis with fevers and chills, and cystoid macular edema, ocular hypertension, and chorioretinal scarring with cataracts are all granted as service connected. The cases for rheumatoid arthritis with fevers and chills and cystoid macular edema, ocular hypertension, and chorioretinal scarring with cataracts are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS are rated at 20 percent, effective September 1, 2009. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and right hip disability due to a lack of adequate rationale in previous VA opinions and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that her education and work history did not support a conclusion that she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and service connection issues are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The specific issues include rating adjustments, service connection determinations, and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar strain and service connection for radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis and colon cancer, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding medical records and request authorization from the Veteran for release of private treatment records.