Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claims for workers' compensation and must be remanded to obtain relevant records. Additionally, he needs medical examinations or opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, left hip and shoulder disabilities, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 9, 2013 for service connection of hypertension and recurrent major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC). The remaining issues related to his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, heel disabilities, and cyst on the buttocks are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War is also being considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD. The claim for right hip disability remains pending as new evidence has not been provided to reopen it. The rating for lumbar osteoarthritis needs to be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip condition prevents him from securing and maintaining any form of gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis in the October 2016 decision, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hip disability is related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate for decision-making purposes and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's left hip disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left hip disability and his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran needs additional VA treatment records from 1996 to 2015, including those related to his September 2012 arthroplasty, as well as an examination by a clinician to determine if the left hip disability is secondary to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities, to include as secondary to a left knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims related to knee and hip disabilities, leading to the dismissal of these cases.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for the issues of right hip disability, chronic sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims will be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for the left knee disability, but the issue of secondary service connection for a left hip disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip condition, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of left hip disability. The claims for right hip disability are also remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship with service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a hearing loss and tinnitus examination, and scheduling a lumbar spine examination.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected left toe disability due to lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disability (enlarged heart) is also reopened.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for a lower back condition and associated neurological abnormalities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including corroboration of the Veteran's claimed stressors and examination for bilateral upper extremity frostbite.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and hip issues, neck and back problems, neurological disorders, and a psychiatric disability. The appeals are being returned to VA for further development.