Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current functional impairment of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis, left hip disability (claimed as left hip replacement), pulmonary disability (COPD), Raynaud's disease, skin cancer, and neuropathy of the lower extremities due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into service, but a remand is necessary for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that an adequate opinion is required to make a decision on the merits of the appellant's service connection claim for cause of death, and thus remanded. The accrued benefits claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention or treatment related to this condition.,Service connection for a back condition, secondary to a left knee condition, was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition occurred during or within one year after service.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention of this condition.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability and the STRs are negative for any mention of this condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Graves' disease and its secondary effects, including rheumatoid arthritis, eye irritation, and high cholesterol. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbosacral strain and entitlement to TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the issues of propriety of reduction in rating of rheumatoid arthritis, entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee traumatic arthritis, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to procedural errors and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 4, 2009. As such, the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee disorder and a bilateral foot disorder due to incomplete medical records. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals on multiple service connection claims, and the Board has dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service injury or disease of the feet and no relationship between current diagnoses and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and skin rash as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to presumed environmental exposures during his service in Southwest Asia. The claims are being remanded to reschedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to grant these claims.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus related to his active service. However, he does not have a confirmed diagnosis of IHD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed arthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis musculoskeletal condition, as well as its relationship to service-connected disabilities and obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The effective date for radiculopathy is also being remanded.