Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to unclear etiology and functional impact of medications.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability and kidney disorder were denied. The Veteran's right knee issues, including instability and limitation of motion, were granted with increased ratings.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle disorders, sinusitis, TBI, tension headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for depression with anxiety prior to March 3, 2017. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for depression with anxiety prior to March 3, 2017. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The left and right hip conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a prostate disorder, right hip disability, and sinusitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claims and concluded that the disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The claims for left shoulder, hip, and leg disabilities, as well as sleep apnea and migraines are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The right hip disability, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg are not considered service-connected. An initial compensable rating was also denied for trauma-induced onychauxis with onychomycosis of the left great toe.

The Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for a left hip disability is granted, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is granted service connection. The initial rating for hysterectomy residuals, removal of uterus and partial removal of ovaries remains at 30 percent. Service connection for a right hip disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability due to an additional examination being needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current hip conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hip disability was not incurred in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for left hip disability and migraine headaches is being remanded due to potential worsening of symptoms. The Board requests a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety and depression) as there is no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as her degenerative arthritis of the right hand, was granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain is denied. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at a 30 percent since April 2, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records, conducting a new VA examination, and providing proper notice regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disability, low back disability, and neck disability due to incomplete development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right hip disabilities, heart condition, hypertension, Hepatitis C, residuals of stroke, numbness and claudication in all four extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.