Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder and right wrist disabilities. The reduction of a 50% rating to a 30% rating for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is upheld, but the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating prior to July 25, 2016, and in excess of 30% thereafter, remains pending. The Board has also remanded two issues related to service connection.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, hip, knee, and foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for pes planus with bilateral callosities and TDIU. Additionally, the issues regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims seeking entitlement to service connection for right and left hip disabilities are also being remanded.

The appeals for service connection and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back, knee, hip, and radiculopathy conditions, are so severe that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cholesteatoma, right knee disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and low back disability all claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on headaches is dismissed. The right hip condition and endometriosis are granted, but the left knee degenerative lateral meniscus and wrist carpal tunnel syndromes remain at their current ratings. A TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for gastric ulcer status-post vagotomy. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, and hemorrhoids disabilities, as well as the compensable rating for a deviated septum.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability due to new evidence received since the February 2009 decision. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining U.S. Army Reserve records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability following a July 1993 left total hip replacement is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, thoracic spine, bilateral hip, left knee, and neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, all secondary to a right knee disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hip and knee disabilities, Gulf War illness, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's right hip condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to cervical spine, low back, left hip, and psychiatric disabilities are inadequate for decision-making purposes. The Veteran must be provided with addendum opinions addressing whether his current conditions are secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show a current disability or any link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate findings from a previous VA examination. The Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities are being reviewed again by a different VA examiner.