Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for left hip condition and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had a current disability or that any diagnosed disability is related to his active duty.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip disability and right knee disability with cyst, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis. The claims will be remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of claims by his representative.,The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and secondary service connection have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as other conditions such as low back disability, hip, ankle, knee, foot disabilities, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records, conducting examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions, and providing opinions on their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues remaining is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran filed a timely NOD with respect to the denial of service connection for tinnitus and a systolic murmur in December 2013, and the appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Parkinson’s disease and right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but the dates of his employment need to be clarified.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left hip condition, left knee condition, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and cause of death.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) level based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities from April 19, 2007, to March 19, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for back, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hip condition, and major depressive disorder due to lack of new and material evidence for the back disorder claim. The Board also found no current diagnoses or continuity of symptoms for the right hip condition and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the right foot, hip, and knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, and back condition secondary to right ankle condition are inextricably intertwined with his claim for right ankle condition. As such, these related issues must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records and incomplete information on the Veteran's injuries. The claims will be reviewed again after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Veteran has withdrawn all issues except for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, neck disability, sleep disability, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding aggravation by pre-existing conditions.