Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's back, neck, and extremity disabilities. The claims for fibromyalgia, cervical strain, spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with scoliosis, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, shoulder disabilities, and hip disabilities are all being reviewed due to incomplete medical records from her service at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with scoliosis also require further examination as per Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his right foot, cervical spine, right hip, and right leg disabilities are granted. The Veteran’s right wrist disability claim is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for left hip disability and concluding that there is no nexus between current right hip disability and active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for left knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran’s back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are presumed due to exposure to an IED blast during service. The Veteran has been remanded for additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied.,Service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are all denied.,Service connection for skeletal arthritis is denied.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (left and right) and upper extremities (left and right) is denied.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied.,Service connection for bilateral kidney disability is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral eye condition (diabetic retinopathy) is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hips and knees, as well as his claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The issues are being remanded due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected skin disease caused obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated the hip and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and other conditions have been granted service connection. The right knee disorder and gout are also granted. However, the Veteran does not meet criteria for service connection for plantar fasciitis, liver disorder (including hepatic steatosis), or right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her left hip disability, right foot conditions, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence indicating a possible association between these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of a right tibiofibular fracture, right hip disability, back disability, and sciatica of both lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support the Veteran’s allegations regarding his injuries resulting from the 2005 motor vehicle accident.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the disabilities are secondary to service-connected varicose veins pathology.

The Veteran's claims of secondary service connection for a left hip condition and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence of a compensable disability.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for left hip disability. The Veteran does not have current left or right hip disability, nor do post-service treatment records indicate such disabilities.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable and the Board finds no evidence of a compensable disability.,Service connection for PTSD has been denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for PTSD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including bipolar disorder, depression, and insomnia, has been denied as there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service or any other service-connected disability.,The Veteran's left knee disability has also been denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's right tarsal tunnel syndrome, with moderate incomplete paralysis involving the sciatic nerve, is granted a 20 percent disability rating. The Board also found that her service-connected right hip disability warrants further examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot, low back, hip, and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty. The Veteran's eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits is also remanded as information on his periods of service is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee and right hip disabilities are related to his active service, including any in-service injury from a fall.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and right leg/hip condition are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated medical opinions regarding their severity and etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip condition, testis atrophy complete, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a sleep disorder. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records from the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination to determine the etiology of his diagnosed hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back, bilateral hip, and left knee disabilities are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected right knee arthritis.