Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability and hepatitis C, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability must be remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, hypertension, and high cholesterol is granted. However, the claims for hypertension and high cholesterol are denied as there is no evidence of their onset during or within one year after service. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbar spine at L5-S1 due to possible relevant Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent from March 16, 2018. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right hip disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all available records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee cellulitis. The Board found no current disability in either condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left hip condition secondary to his service-connected right hip condition has been reopened. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s conditions, as well as for rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the reduction of his disability rating for TBI from 40 percent to non-compensable was not proper, and the 40 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, seizure disorder with narcolepsy (as a residual of TBI), left upper extremity weakness, left lower extremity weakness, left hip disability as a residual of TBI, visual field defects due to status post craniotomy for subdural hematoma, and post-concussive headaches and localized neuritic head pain associated with TBI are all rated based on their individual merits.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims and an increased rating claim for left knee arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder has been granted. The claims for left hip, right hip, bilateral knee, and right leg disorders have all been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities, nor was it otherwise related to an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current disability and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right hip disabilities due to their potential relationship with the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with lumbar stenosis.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for left hip and left knee disabilities was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Service connection for left leg disability (other than the left hip, knee, or ankle) is also denied.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted a 10% rating from June 18, 2012 for limitation of extension and flexion. The right hip disability is granted a 10% rating from November 15, 2017 for thigh impairment. Other conditions are either denied or have been resolved.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar scoliosis, left hip condition, left foot condition, and migraines are all under review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected degenerative changes, lumbar spine, L5-S1. Specifically, the Board requests that SSA records be obtained and an addendum opinion from the June 2014 VA examiner be provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a neck disability and bilateral hip disability, both secondary to service-connected back disability. The Veteran's neck and hip disabilities are currently under review with additional medical opinions required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all three claims related to hip disability, pneumonia, and a burn injury. As such, the cases are dismissed.