Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip, knee, ankle, lumbar spine, and pelvic injury disabilities due to inconsistencies in evidence regarding whether the Veteran was under the influence of alcohol at the time of a motor vehicle accident. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as the current opinions are inadequate. The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected due to lack of auditory threshold criteria meeting VA standards. For his low back and right hip disabilities, the Board found the existing opinions insufficient and requested new ones.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran was not provided with adequate notice and opportunity to schedule VA examinations as requested by the Board in July 2018.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, to include tumor and avascular necrosis of the right hip. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current right hip disability. Additionally, the issue of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left lower extremity shin splints, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and right elbow disability.,Service connection cannot be awarded for these conditions due to lack of current diagnosed disabilities or pain amounting to functional impairment.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for bilateral hip disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The right shoulder claim is also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left hip disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to recent VA x-rays and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The RO is directed to obtain updated VA treatment records and SSA records, as well as any missing service treatment records from the David Grant Medical Center and NPRC.,VA should request that the Veteran submit any outstanding evidence regarding his claimed in-service exposure to dead bodies and race riots at Travis Air Force Base. The RO should also request a Statement in Support of Claim for PTSD Secondary to Personal Assault, and provide adequate notice as to such claim.,The RO should afford the Veteran new VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder), TBI, migraine headaches, TMJ, cervical spine disabilities, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability. Adequate etiological opinions are needed.,The RO should afford the Veteran VA examinations for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as a new VA examination for his right upper extremity disability (right shoulder and arm pain and numbness, right hand disability).,The RO should afford the Veteran VA examinations for his right lower extremity disability. Adequate etiological opinions are needed.

The Veteran's temporary total rating for convalescence due to right hip replacement surgery is denied, and the evaluation higher than 30 percent for residuals of right hip disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for right hip and right shoulder conditions, finding no new and material evidence and concluding that neither condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected left knee scar, low back disability, bilateral hip and foot disabilities. Further examination and opinion are needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these disabilities and his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical examination and need for further guidance on the Veteran's hip condition, including its relation to service and other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left hand, right hand, left arm, right arm, bilateral foot, left hip, neck, and TBI disabilities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent and credible evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The AOJ is to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, including any from Vietnam service. They are also to schedule new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain or directly related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions. The issues include reopening of previously denied claims, entitlement to service connection for right hip disability, and an eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions have been denied. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding alleged exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals during his time in Okinawa.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected lumbar DJD with IVDS.