Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in the previous VA examination, and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the August 1983 treatment note in the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence of an injury or disease in service and no relationship between any current hip disability and service.

The Veteran's right hip condition resulted in flexion limited to 90 degrees and extension limited to 15 degrees, resulting in a rating of 10 percent for the thigh impairment as of April 3, 2019. The Veteran’s right tibia shin splint was rated at 10 percent.,The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder) is not secondary to her service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of low back, right knee, and left hip disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeals.

The claims for service connection have been granted, but the Veteran's conditions are not related to his active service or chemical exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, blackouts/fainting, colon problems/irregular bowel movements, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, scoliosis of the spine, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have all been denied.,The Board found that there was no evidence to support a service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability but has remanded his bilateral hip disability claim due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, insomnia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities in these areas.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted as service-connected.,Increased ratings are required for cervical spine DJD, right shoulder arthritis, sarcoidosis, and bilateral pinguecula.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia, polyarthritis (claimed as polyarthritis), chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, and sleep disability. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's knee scars, right elbow disability, left great toe disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and thoracic lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, but denied service connection for left hip condition, left upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine, left shoulder impingement syndrome with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, and right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence linking his current disabilities to active service. Further development is needed, including VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injuries and secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the Veteran competent and credible regarding his in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms since discharge, but places little weight on the VA examiner's opinion that the tinnitus is not related to service. For the bilateral elbows, hips, and ankles, and low back disabilities, the Board finds remand necessary for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a left leg disability, right knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral hip disabilities, and a right leg disability. The Veteran's active service is acknowledged, but there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right hip disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence, as the existing evidence did not establish a causal link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development, requiring a new VA examination and review of records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities. However, further development is needed to determine their etiology due to lack of VA treatment records and examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the right hip disability is not secondary to his service-connected left knee strain and chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record. The claims are being remanded to afford the Veteran VA examinations.