Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further action, including a decision on the appellant's request for substitution.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service exposure to loud noise from gunfire during military police training.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury. The claim for TDIU is pending but not currently decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, low back disability, right hip and knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 8, 2006 to September 23, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability and bilateral knee disabilities, likely render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and neck disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to his service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol use disorder warrant a 70 percent rating since May 17, 2016.

The Veteran's hip disability is found to be etiologically related to service, and his leg length discrepancy is less likely as not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected back pain. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee condition and assigned him a 10 percent rating for right foot fracture residuals. The issues of service connection for left foot, right knee, and left hip conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral hip condition with osteoarthritis, secondary to the service-connected compression fracture of T9-T10 with DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's bilateral hip condition is more likely related to advanced age and many years of performing heavy work as a laborer.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's ankle, hip, knee, and shoulder conditions. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and confirming that the opinions provided comport with the remand. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for her hip disability will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hip and lower leg disabilities, as the current evaluations do not include measurements of range of motion in active motion, passive motion, weight-bearing, and nonweight-bearing. The examiner must also determine if there are periods of flare-ups and their effects on functional impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability or left hip disability, and denied service connection for both conditions. The Veteran's right hand disability was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate consideration of medical evidence and failure to consider lay symptoms in evaluating his hip disability. The case must be returned for a VA examination and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion on whether he qualifies for this benefit based on his service-connected right hip disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims on appeal can be decided. The case is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to failure to schedule VA examinations and obtain relevant treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including scheduling the Veteran for an examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.