Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity conditions (including hamstring, sciatica, radiculopathy), left hip disability, right hip disability, and tumor condition. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these disabilities are related to military service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. Additionally, it has assigned a 60% rating effective March 29, 2017, for the Veteran's right knee status-post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's claim for impaired fasting glucose was denied as it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD service connection was granted with an effective date of December 29, 2016. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,An initial PTSD rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.,Bilateral pes planus service connection was granted with an effective date of April 29, 2011. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,Service connection for a skin disability was denied.,Allergic rhinitis was granted as related to the Veteran's active service.,The claims for cervical spine and sinus disabilities were reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all granted. The decision specifically addresses the bilateral hearing loss claim, finding that it is related to active service. For the bilateral hip and ankle disabilities, the Board determined there was no nexus between these conditions and either active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left hip disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The VA needs to conduct a new examination and provide an opinion on the source, nature, and etiology of any left hip pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to missing VA treatment records, as well as a need for further examination of his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for reopening a previously denied left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, hip, and knee conditions due to new evidence. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of back disability, right hip condition, left hip iliotibial band syndrome, and traumatic brain injury. Service connection was granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a right ankle disability, back disability, bilateral hip disability, right leg disability, left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and left eye disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, right hip disability, left total knee replacement, and right total knee replacement are all service-connected due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions during military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and depressive disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right finger disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, heart disability (to include coronary artery disease), hypertension, high cholesterol, melanoma, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right hip, right thigh, right knee, and right leg disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and remanded issues regarding the left hip condition, including rating in excess of 20 percent and compensable rating for limitation of extension and flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, a right shoulder disability, and gastrointestinal disability (IBS). The Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are denied. An effective date of January 13, 2015, is assigned for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity and hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The claim for lumbar degenerative disease was also denied.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of back, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The underlying claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a 10% rating from May 3, 2012 to May 3, 2013. Ratings for his left knee and right knee osteoarthritis are denied. The claim of service connection for a left ankle condition remains pending as new evidence has not been received that would reopen the case.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple issues have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The remaining issues are being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's increased rating for left foot plantar warts with keratomas is granted, while a higher rating for right foot plantar warts with keratomas is denied. The Board has also remanded cases regarding service connection and TDIU due to hip and knee disabilities.