Hip decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for updated VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, hip, and low back disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, left shoulder disability, left hip disability, and low back disability. The conditions were found to be not related to service or otherwise aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has found that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions and new allegations of injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip condition and remanded the rating of the Veteran's left knee condition, as well as his claim for hypertension. The decision also found that the Veteran’s back condition is secondary to his service-connected knees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, left ankle, and left foot disabilities due to his service-connected left femur and left knee disability. The Veteran testified that these disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left femur and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip condition and left hip condition due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a kidney disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left hip and ankle disabilities, cervical spine disability, and left upper extremity disability (left arm) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right hip disability and service connection for left hip disability are remanded due to inadequate examination reports that did not consider all symptoms, including flare-ups. A new VA examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran’s service-connected right hip disability and determine the etiology of his left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected back disability and his bilateral hip, knee, and neck disabilities. The claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain are denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for an increased rating of his right leg length discrepancy. The claim to reopen a right knee disability was granted, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hip and back conditions are related to his service-connected LLD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of certain medical records and examination reports in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's March 27, 2014 Notice of Disagreement is valid and timely filed with respect to his initial disability evaluations for low back, cervical spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to the need for further adjudication on these issues.

The Veteran's seizure disorder, right hip disability, and left hip disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran is granted an increased rating of 20% for his left ankle disability after May 8, 2017.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his left and right hip disabilities. The AOJ must obtain all relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with a Statement of the Case regarding the claim for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to insufficient detail in previous medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which she contends were caused or aggravated by her active duty military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a back disability and right hip disability is granted. The claim of service connection for a right hip strain is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and outstanding records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including private treatment records from Chula Vista California, and schedule an examination by a clinician to determine the current severity of her service-connected back and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's son, D.W.M., was denied recognition as a helpless child due to the evidence showing he had significant physical limitations but also functional abilities that allowed him to support himself.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for dizziness and balance problems, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and right hip disability are denied as they are found to be related to his service-connected fibromyalgia.