Citation Nr: 18145768
Decision Date: 10/30/18	Archive Date: 10/30/18

DOCKET NO. 18-22 820
DATE:	October 30, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is granted.
Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, his rheumatoid arthritis began during active service.
2. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, his ischemic heart disease began during active service.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The criteria for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis are met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a).
2. The criteria for service connection for ischemic heart disease are met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Veteran served in the Philippine Army from December 1944 to March 1946, with service as a Philippine Guerrilla from May 1945 to October 1945.
1. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ischemic Heart Disease
The Veteran contends that he developed rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease while in service.  See January 2018 Veteran statement.
The Veteran has provided medical evidence establishing that he has current diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease.  See July 2010 private treatment record; May 2013 private treatment record.  
Despite VA efforts to obtain them, the Veteran’s complete service treatment records are unavailable and further attempts to find such records would be futile, and the Veteran was notified of this fact.  See October 2017 VA Notification Letter.  
Nevertheless, the Board finds the Veteran's assertion that he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease while on active duty credible.  
Therefore, the Board concludes that the Veteran has current diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease that began during active service.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107(b); Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1363, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2009); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a).
(Continued on the next page)
 
In sum, for the reasons and bases discussed above, the Board has resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran, and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease is granted.  See 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (b).
 
DONNIE R. HACHEY
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Mine, Associate Counsel