Hip decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability and left hip osteoarthritis, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip disability, right knee disability, and neurological disability of the right leg due to new evidence received since the last denial. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for a left knee condition, low back condition, left hip disability, and right hip disability has been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran’s left knee condition (to include residuals of a total left knee arthroplasty) as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition. Service connection is also established for his low back condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right above the knee amputation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent effective July 26, 2013.,The Veteran's neck disability (orthopedic manifestations) is granted an increased rating of 20 percent before December 11, 2017 and a rating of 30 percent after December 11, 2017.

Your appeals have been dismissed because you requested to withdraw your appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip condition is more likely than not related to his service, including multiple parachute jumps and a specific injury during service. As such, the claim for service connection for the right hip condition is granted.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 100% from December 26, 2013 to January 1, 2015 and at 30% afterwards. A TDIU is granted. The reductions of the Veteran’s bilateral knee instability ratings were not proper. The left hip replacement surgery rating needs to be reviewed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral hip disability have been denied. The appeals are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began on November 11, 2009. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right hip disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 27, 2012. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral hip disability and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for these conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the inadequacy of the April 2013 VA examination and the need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, left knee, and low back conditions.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated as noncompensable, and the right hip condition has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings and secondary service connection for various disabilities, including lower back pain, left ankle, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities, are denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions were caused by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and knee disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability due to lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, and back disabilities as the Veteran did not have any of these conditions during his active duty or at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis. The Board found that the current diagnoses were related to service due to a significant progression of the left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's current lumbar degenerative disc disease and his active military service.,The Board remanded the issues of service connection for right hip disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for SFW of both hands, bilateral hip disabilities, cervical spine disability, left knee disability and right eye macular hole with visual defect. The evidence received since the last final rating decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.