Hip decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to a service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a back, bilateral hip, and right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for whole body arthritis and left hip disability, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to active service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the additional evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left elbow disorder was granted, with the claim being reopened but not decided on the merits due to lack of competent medical opinion linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hip disability and its onset during service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current right hip disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions had their onset many years after service discharge and were not related to service or caused by his service-connected knee and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of a left hip condition, left knee condition, lung conditions (including asthma and bronchitis), and hypertension. The issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and major depressive disorder. The rating for right elbow bursitis remains denied. Service connection is denied for left hip disability, right hip disability, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis. The examiner should also opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any service-connected disability caused or worsened the lumbar disorder beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are rated at 10% each, with no higher ratings due to the extent of limitation of motion.,For his seizure disorder prior to May 31, 2016, a rating in excess of 80% is denied. The evidence does not show more than one major seizure per month as required for an increased rating.,Following May 31, 2016, the Veteran's seizure disorder warrants no higher than a 40% rating. There is insufficient evidence to support a 60% or higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hip disability, right eye SFW, and PTSD due to outstanding treatment records and further medical opinions being needed.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder, left hip, right hip, and left knee/patella conditions due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for arthritis has not been reopened as it is related to other joints already service-connected.,The claim for left foot heel spur remains denied as no new or material evidence was submitted.