Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection for insomnia is granted as secondary to her service-connected back and hip disabilities. An increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, is granted for her thoracic spine disability. A TDIU rating is granted based on her unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, breathing-related disability, and lower back disability are granted. The Veteran is denied for higher initial ratings or earlier effective dates for her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and evaluations in excess of certain percentages for various conditions, as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed right hip disability, as there is no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen her claims for service connection for low back and left hip disabilities. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities due to the possibility of relevant SSA records not being included in the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and a left knee disability, both claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.,There is no evidence of a current bilateral hip or left knee disability related to service. The VA opinions found that any diagnosed conditions are not due to military service.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 14, 2010 because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, blood disorder (claimed as blood clots), sleep disability, skin disability, head injury residuals, headaches, cardiovascular disability (claimed as atrial fibrillation with chest pain), right hip disability, and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted effective September 24, 2013. The Board is now considering whether a higher rating or earlier effective date can be assigned.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 70% rating, but the claims for service connection of left hip condition, headaches, and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim requires additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and verification of his periods of active duty, as well as obtaining any available service treatment records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye disorders (including right and left eyes), back disability, neck disability, right arm disability, left arm disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of each claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the relationship between his left hip disability and lower extremity radiculopathy with his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disability at present.,The Veteran's right hip, low back, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for migraines due to the Veteran's withdrawal from appeal. The remaining claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right hip DJD with painful motion is granted an initial 10 percent rating from October 30, 2003 to August 1, 2007. The Board grants the request to remove the baseline 10 percent severity of his right hip prior to aggravation by his service-connected right knee.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA attempts to obtain relevant SSA and private medical records, including from the University of MS Medical Center. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and, if so, whether it is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The bilateral hip disability claim is also deferred until the low back disability claim is resolved.

The Board has denied service connection for numbness in the left toes, neck disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for secondary service connection are remanded as further medical opinions are needed.