Hip decisions — 2020

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and foot disabilities. The right and left hip disabilities are also being remanded for a new VA examination to determine their etiology.,A VA examiner will be asked to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's low back, right hip, and left hip conditions are related to in-service events or injuries.

The Veteran's claims for peptic ulcers and right foot injury have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The left hip condition, headaches, sleep apnea, and hypertension are all denied as there is no established service connection.,Issues related to peptic ulcers, right foot injury, left hip condition, headaches, and sleep apnea remain pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service. The Veteran's COPD is also being reviewed as his use of tobacco products may be related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip condition was dismissed. The claim of service connection for a lower back condition was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case must be returned for a new VA examination and opinion that addresses whether the right hip disability was proximately due to or aggravated by the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are to be evaluated further.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The right and left hip disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings need more evidence, specifically medical records from his VA treatment at West Haven VAMC.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability. The examiner did not consider the lay evidence and did not provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities due to a lack of complete service treatment records, including those from his National Guard service. The Veteran reported jumping out of planes during this period.

The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which covers symptoms such as limited range of motion and pain. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or other criteria.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,His coronary artery bypass graft surgery has also been granted a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a left leg and left hip disability, as secondary to service-connected residuals of liposarcoma of the right leg. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as freestanding claims, which are barred by law.,No specific rating or effective date has been assigned in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, and cervical spine disabilities due to additional development being necessary.,Service connection is denied for GERD as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service.