Rheumatoid arthritis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depressive disorder, TBI, and related disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current back condition to his active duty service. The right and left knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbosacral strain and lumbar stenosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lower back disability, radiculopathies, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since July 28, 2022. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected autoimmune disorder to include rheumatoid arthritis has resulted in the need for aid and attendance of another, as evidenced by his inability to perform daily activities independently due to joint pain, swelling, and weakness. He requires assistance with bathing, grooming, and keeping himself clean and presentable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of non-specific damage to the heart, circulatory system, cellular DNA damage, and cancers and gene damage have been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 17, 2012 for the grant of service connection for cervical spine DDD/herniation and radiculopathy, right upper extremity.,There was no formal or informal claim filed before July 17, 2012. The Veteran's representative argued that the effective date should go back to May 2007 based on new service treatment records submitted in June 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of multiple joints, including his right and left shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, and feet. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the remanded cervical spine, shoulder, and wrist claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service symptoms and his current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand instructions and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of any current autoimmune disorder, including rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's assertions of in-service injuries are considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left shoulder conditions, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 4, 2015. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for this period.