Hip decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for low back condition and left hip condition (secondary to low back condition) is remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg numbness, OSA as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent, cardiovascular disability (including atrial fibrillation or coronary artery disease) and skin cancer all as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The effective date of the rating for these conditions is March 3, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for kidney failure, hip and knee conditions, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for various disabilities remain pending and need to be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, left hip disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded. The claim for a compensable rating prior to March 19, 2012, and in excess of 60 percent on and after March 19, 2012, for herpes simplex is also remanded. The Veteran's prostate cancer reduction from 100 percent to 20 percent is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow condition, lower back pain, right hip condition, left hip condition, and tinnitus.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or illness related to these conditions. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate any complaints or treatment for these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, back, and right hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in his file.

The Veteran's left hip pain is attributed to his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease, and the Board finds no separate left hip disability.

The Veteran's vertigo condition is proximately due to service.,The Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to address flare-ups of his right hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities, finding that further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service or secondary to his existing service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hammer toes with tyloma (callus) formation is attributable to his active service. The Board finds that an opinion that a condition is not related to service for no other reason than because the condition was not diagnosed in service is contrary to governing evidentiary standards. Therefore, the Board finds that the February 2016 VA medical opinion has less probative weight.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hip and left knee conditions. The rating for arthritis of the left hip remains at 30 percent, and the rating for left chondromalacia patella is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the claim for service connection for a right hip condition and the issue of evaluating the Veteran's migraines. The decision is based on the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip and right knee disabilities, as these issues were previously remanded. The VA examinations did not adequately consider post-service treatment records and lay statements.