Hip decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip condition should be remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the possibility of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,A rating of 20 percent for right ankle strain since May 14, 2019, is granted. Prior to that date, a maximum rating of 10 percent is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of current disability or evidence that they were incurred during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disability and remanded the cases of right and left knee degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms with obstruction. There was no evidence of onset during service or relationship to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for a right elbow disability and a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current pain is more likely than not linked to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also remanded for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its relation to service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left foot, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent as of December 17, 2010, and prior to August 3, 2018, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and right hip condition, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing low back injury in service and that any aggravation during service did not occur.,The Board also found that the Veteran’s right hip condition is secondary to his non-service connected low back radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the service connection claims for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder will also be remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral wrist arthralgia, bilateral elbow disability, cervical spine disability, and gastrointestinal disability (IBS), due to undiagnosed illness.,These matters are being returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to outstanding medical records from her time in Germany.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and compensation for a right hip disability, as well as for a hernia secondary to the right hip disability. The remand includes scheduling an orthopedist examination and obtaining VA treatment records.

The claim to reopen service connection for various conditions is granted. The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and potential VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left bicep tendon rupture, medical anterior left upper arm scar, and adjustment disorder have been withdrawn.,Service connection has not been granted for the Veteran's claimed left shoulder disability, low back disability, or left hip disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all remaining issues on appeal, including service connection claims and rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The issues include low back disability, bilateral radiculopathy, left hip disability, right hip disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral elbow disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claim for sleep disorder is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, and right ankle disability as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.