Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence linking the current left hip, knee, and leg disabilities to service. The Veteran's in-service jeep accident is noted but there are conflicting opinions regarding whether a fracture occurred.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right hip, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right distal fibula fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an unresolved issue regarding left leg length discrepancy. The remaining issues of service connection and eligibility will be reconsidered after resolving this issue.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left hip disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure and secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability. The neck, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral elbow disabilities were denied as not incurred in or due to service. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea and headaches, but denied for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims, including cervical spine disability, right elbow and left elbow disabilities, right hip and left hip disabilities, and residuals of a right hand injury. The maximum schedular ratings were not assigned for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to outstanding development being needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.,Service connection is denied for the left elbow disability, lumbar spine (lower back) disability, and left hip disability due to lack of diagnosed conditions affecting earning capacity.,A compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied based on current audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his right knee and service connection for his right hip disability as secondary to his right knee are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, right knee replacement, right knee burn scar with right knee surgical scars, left knee and femur disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, left hip disability, GERD, and IBS.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of her right and left hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis, left hip disability (claimed as left hip replacement), pulmonary disability (COPD), Raynaud's disease, skin cancer, and neuropathy of the lower extremities due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to new evidence submitted, including a lay statement from another member of the National Guard who witnessed his in-service injury. The Board finds that this evidence relates the Veteran’s current lumbar spine disability to an in-service injury and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for status post hairline fracture of the left medial patella and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed.,The Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are granted. The claims for nerve condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, arthritis, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's right hip disability, including a lack of x-rays confirming osteoarthritis and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus due to clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The cases of bilateral hip, shin splint, and ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.