Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right hip, knee, left foot, and right foot conditions. The Veteran's PTSD claim was also reopened.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings possible under the applicable VA rating criteria. The Veteran’s left hip disability is currently rated at 30 percent.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability and LLE radiculopathy, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's right hip condition is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied due to lack of aggravation during service.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, shoulder disability, hip disability, knee disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric/mental disabilities. The July 1997 decision remains final regarding the low back disability claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as TDIU. The decision on TDIU is pending due to its interdependence with other matters.

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for osteoarthritis and back pain, but has remanded the right hip disability claim due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability, low back disability, and left leg radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to new and material evidence. The lung disability (including OSA, GERD, and PTSD) and psychiatric disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, breast cancer residuals, back condition, left hip condition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, and vitiligo have been denied.,The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for joint pain. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to her military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, GERD, and ED have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability is granted effective April 23, 2015.

The Veteran's right shoulder and bilateral hip conditions were denied service connection as they did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.,A 20% rating was granted for status post-operative left Achilles tendonitis, effective September 9, 2009 to October 16, 2014.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction was granted. Service connection is established for PTSD with a rating of 70 percent effective from April 9, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back injury, ALS, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, and tremors due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess his current left knee disability. The Board also requires a new examination to determine if his right hip, right knee, and low back disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected left hip disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar strain, bilateral foot ganglion cysts, bilateral hip condition as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and bilateral sacral radiculopathy. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability. The remand requires additional examinations to address functional impairment and provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 50 percent from May 31, 2012 to July 13, 2016.,Service connection for right hand disability and bilateral elbow disability are denied as they do not meet the criteria of a qualifying chronic disease or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for cervical spine injury, headaches, lower back/spine condition, left hip condition, and right and left ankle disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The effective date of service connection remains unknown as no new evidence was received.