Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The appeals for service connection for a left shoulder disability and temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for convalescence following left shoulder rotator cuff repair surgery were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ED, RA, sinusitis, fibromyalgia, IBS, a skin disorder of the face, and bicep disabilities. The exposure basis is attributed to Gulf War service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and cervical neck lordosis condition, vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine headaches as secondary to her service-connected disability of nonspecific musculoligamentous strain, lumbar spine. The remanded issues include determining whether these conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities or if they have a direct relationship with her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for penis deformity, loss of erectile power, and benign prostatic hypertrophy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The application to reopen the claim for hypertension as due to herbicide exposure is denied. The claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea are both found to have had their onset during his active service, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and disability resulting in back pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an injury or disease incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, finding that there is no competent evidence showing he has rheumatoid arthritis or any other type of bilateral hip disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service motorcycle accidents, but there is no medical evidence of a diagnosis or etiology for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as related to service. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise that his sinusitis, pituitary gland condition, joint pain, bilateral elbow and knee conditions, and GERD are related to service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the Board found no nexus between her current conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records, more current examinations of certain disabilities, and a VA spine examination. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip disabilities, lower back disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are at issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lung cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further action.