Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot hammer toe, and right foot hammer toe. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his residuals of right hip disability, fractured right femur, and leg length discrepancy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher than 10 percent rating due to limitations in thigh extension, flexion, abduction, adduction or external rotation, nonunion or malunion of the right femur fracture, or shortening of a lower extremity bone.

The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's dysphasia (trouble swallowing) is remanded to determine its etiology.,The Veteran’s claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine remains denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings, as the Veteran withdrew his claims in writing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for her cervical spine, lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee disabilities as well as her respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip and low back disabilities on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for further development related to initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as TDIU.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is granted. The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder, wrist, hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bladder cancer. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records and providing etiological opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his right hip disability, chronic lumbar strain, and cervical spine DDD due to inadequate examination reports and lack of adequate descriptions of flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right ankle disabilities, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, hip disabilities, foot disabilities, diabetic retinopathy, shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, heart disorder, and psychiatric disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, left knee condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, and an abdominal condition. The case will proceed with further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and right hip disabilities, finding that they are secondary to a previously service-connected low back disability.,Service connection for PTSD and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied due to lack of verified stressors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and hip disabilities, as well as an increased rating for his left ankle disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, a vocational rehabilitation file, and medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities and his current back and hip conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was denied in June 2012, and no new and material evidence has been received since then. The claims for increased ratings of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the lower extremities (right and left), and PTSD have all been granted. A TDIU is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right hip disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claim for low back disability is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its nature or etiology.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection are remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address whether her current disabilities were caused or aggravated by her service-connected left ankle disability.,The Veteran is seeking to establish that her cervical spine, right hip, bilateral knee, and right leg (claimed as leg length inequality) disabilities are related to her service-connected left ankle disability. The Board finds the VA examiners' opinions inadequate in this regard.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received after May 2016. The claims will be reviewed again and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to an error in the VA's duty to assist.