Hip decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for low back condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are granted as secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back and left hip conditions are secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right hip disability, ischemic heart disease (due to herbicide agent exposure), and erectile dysfunction as secondary to ischemic heart disease due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any necessary treatment records and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for leg length discrepancy, back disability, and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and her hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness related to any claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left hip disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence from previous VA examinations. The Veteran will need to provide medical records and undergo additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and hip disabilities, as well as his request for a higher rating for PTSD, have been granted. The claim for increased PTSD has resulted in a 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right hip disabilities due to a lack of VA examination. The Veteran will need to schedule an examination to determine if his hip conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, hernia, and respiratory disorder due to exposure to asbestos and other hazardous chemicals. The claims are being reviewed again with additional evidence considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for additional addendum opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, finding that it is caused by and related to his service-connected right hip disability. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative joint disease of the right hip/right total hip arthroplasty, claimed as a right hip condition, was reopened and granted.,Service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraines, as a residual of TBI, were both granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and a right hip condition, with the latter being secondary to the former. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the current conditions to service or any presumptive period.

All claims for service connection or increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected left femoral fracture and associated hip disability are granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a lower respiratory disability is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right foot and right hip disabilities are remanded, as well as the claim for a higher rating for left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back disability.