Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for back, right hip, right leg, right ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, headaches, hepatitis C, and fatigue/malaise due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims for disabilities of the back, right shoulder, hips, knees, and ankles are inextricably intertwined with the claim for hepatitis C.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding the timeliness of his notices of disagreement and entitlement to a higher rating for left knee disability. The appeal was also dismissed as he withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, as well as to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his service-connected left ankle or low back disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed hip and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for any of the conditions.,The Veteran was denied service connection for his lower back condition in November 2006 and left hip and right hip conditions in November 2011. The current decision remands these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cervical spine, wrist, hip, knee, skin condition, Gulf War syndrome, and PTSD. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his treatment and stressors during service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's eye disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder joint pain, neck pain, and hip joint pain. The Veteran's disabilities are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the current condition is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Board also remanded several issues related to right shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, headache, and psychiatric disabilities due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's right elbow condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from September 2014 to November 20, 2018 and denied for a higher rating thereafter. The Veteran’s left hip condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from September 22, 2015 to August 3, 2016 and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,The Veteran's right elbow condition did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for tinnitus was granted, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is now granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received after the prior final May 2009 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, finding that the current conditions did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period and were more likely related to post-service activities.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, and foot disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his service-connected left hip disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim of service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's back disability will need to be examined and a new opinion provided regarding whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and feet conditions due to uncertainty regarding whether previously service-connected disabilities contributed to obesity.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 5, 2015, for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied. The Board also found that a remand is required for the claims of service connection for hip disability and increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.