Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle disability, residuals of cold injuries to the lower extremities, and right hip, low back, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for his left hip condition due to conflicting evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip condition and a nasal condition, to include rhinitis and sinusitis due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and is being remanded to determine the validity of the reported stressors.,The Veteran's claim for a left knee disability has been reopened and is being remanded to attempt to corroborate the reported stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hip disabilities to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including painful aching joints of the entire body and osteoarthritis. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from VA, SSA, and private providers, and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several service connection claims, including those related to PTSD, hypertension, heart condition, back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy, and monoclonal gammopathy. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip disability and right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service car accident. The issue of an increased rating for gastric ulcer status post vagotomy is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly those related to bilateral ankles, knees, hips, lumbar spine, cervical spine, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea. The claims are also remanded for increased evaluations.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, low back disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's conditions, including his mental health condition, bilateral ankle conditions, and bilateral hip conditions. The reduction in disability rating for cervical spine is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected right hip condition with limitation of extension was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right hip condition with limitation of flexion prior to December 15, 2015 and thereafter was also denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected chronic right hamstring strain with impairment of the thigh prior to December 15, 2015 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's left hip, right hip, lung condition with shortness of breath and breathing problems, shrapnel wound to the forehead, and left middle finger conditions are all denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including a TBI with headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar, right hip, and right leg disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the November 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 10 percent, effective June 26, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as service connection for back and hip conditions. The AOJ must obtain a VA examination and opinions to determine the current nature and severity of the knee disability and whether it permanently worsened any current back or right hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to her service-connected hypertension, and instead more likely due to obesity. The other conditions listed are remanded for further review.,The Veteran’s claims for left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all being remanded.