Hip decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for higher initial staged ratings for left hip, total hip prosthetic replacement is remanded due to the need to obtain private medical treatment records from the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability. The claim is granted as the Veteran's right hip disability is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left and right hip disabilities, a laceration of the left ring finger, a right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal is also remanded for TDIU determination.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and left eye conditions. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of multiple sclerosis, as well as its relationship to other claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various disabilities, a reduction of the rating for prostate cancer residuals, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending and need further investigation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The appeal for bilateral hip disability is dismissed, and the low back disability claim is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, but the appeal for other conditions remains pending due to remand.

The Board has remanded the claims for right hip disability, rheumatoid arthritis, skin disability (vitiligo), and periodontal disability due to potential service connection based on aggravation of these conditions by diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, foot, and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, right shoulder, right thigh, and right hip conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. For the bilateral hip disability, the Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to current symptoms. For tinnitus, the Board found credible the Veteran's reports of noise exposure during service and continued symptomatology since then.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.,Service connection was also denied for a liver disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, and blood pressure condition. The Veteran's cholesterol condition is not considered a chronic disability warranting VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left hip, right hip, and left ankle disabilities, as well as his PTSD with secondary alcohol dependence, require additional examinations to assess their current severity. The appeals are therefore being remanded.

Service connection for left hip disability and low back disability as secondary to a left knee disability is restored from March 1, 2003. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) is granted. A separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the left knee is granted from June 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of his right collarbone, left hip, right hip, left leg, and right leg disabilities is remanded due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for left and right hip disabilities due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than May 22, 2012 for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination.