Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back condition, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea. The decision also denied her increased initial compensable evaluations for a bilateral eye disability prior to November 1, 2017, and corneal abrasion with recurrent corneal erosion from November 1, 2017.

The Board denied compensation benefits for reactive/rheumatoid arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition was not caused by negligence or fault on VA's part in administering a flu shot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for further medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, including hemorrhoids and a left little toe callus. The claims were also dismissed due to her withdrawal of other issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints (previously claimed as pain in the hands) is denied. The Board finds that his current osteoarthritis is unrelated to his time in service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with effective dates ranging from October 31, 2009 to July 13, 2011. The decision also includes a TDIU determination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back strain, but remanded his claims for bilateral ankle condition and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, achilles tendonitis, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica of the left leg, and psychiatric disorder manifested by a head injury, all related to Reserve service. The Board found that there was no evidence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus type II (DM) as the conditions pre-existed military service and were not aggravated by it.,There is no evidence of permanent aggravation of either condition during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, tinnitus, hypertension, beriberi, and irritable bowel syndrome are denied as there is no recognized period of active military service during which these conditions could have been incurred or aggravated.

The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was reopened due to new and material evidence. However, the claim was denied as there is no credible evidence that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis started during or within one year of his separation from active duty, nor is there sufficient evidence linking it to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service in Vietnam, which could impact his eligibility for presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. The RO must verify the nature and extent of the Veteran’s service onboard the USS Black, including any deployments within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them due to the need for additional evidence regarding in-service chemical exposure and psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that neither rheumatoid arthritis nor any other service-connected condition caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The loss of use of both feet was found to be a contributing factor but not the primary cause.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent, as the symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.