Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hip, knee, and foot disabilities, headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence on the claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right total hip replacement was denied. The Board also granted the Veteran TDIU from December 1, 1998 to December 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for compressed vertebra, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, hypertension, eczema, left hip condition, and TBI have been granted. The Veteran is also granted a higher rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right knee conditions, limitation of extension of the right knee, and instability of the right knee have been dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left foot disability, atrial fibrillation (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and chronic liver condition are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection and increased rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right hip, neck, and lumbar spine disabilities. His acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for right and left hip disabilities as well as right and left ankle sprains.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C was upheld.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various foot, knee, and hip conditions that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions considering the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus, CAD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and gout has been restored.,Service connection for a right hip disability and hyperthyroidism remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of multiple sclerosis, a dental condition, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and hypertension. The Board also remanded several issues related to knee disabilities, neurological abnormalities, and head trauma.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, leg, hip, and lung disabilities. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, emphysema, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were all denied.,The Board also denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for sigmoid diverticulosis with chronic constipation and dermatophytosis and onychomycosis of the bilateral feet.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for GERD, low back condition, right hip condition, bilateral foot condition, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date of the grants of service connection is also being considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a hip disability or depressive disorder during service, and the current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection. For the lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left hip disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's left hip disability is denied service connection. Service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine results in a 20% evaluation prior to August 9, 2016 and a 40% evaluation from that date forward. The Veteran's radiculopathy of both lower extremities associated with his lumbar spine disability is also granted at 20%. A TDIU for the period from September 1, 2007 to September 18, 2017 is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including back disability, right knee, left knee, and hip disabilities. The remand requires additional examinations to address whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right hip condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for the heart condition is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and failure to establish a link between the current condition and service or a service-connected disability.,Bilateral leg numbness is not linked to service, and thus service connection is denied.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder has been granted an increased rating to 70% effective February 6, 2013.