Hip decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 1, 2011 did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran’s symptoms from March 1, 2011 to July 14, 2016 more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from March 1, 2011 to July 14, 2016 caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to a pre-existing condition that did not clearly and unmistakably exist prior to service. The decision also notes that remand is necessary for opinions regarding secondary service connection claims for left hip and leg disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted with separate 10 percent ratings under Codes 5260, 5257, and 5259. The TDIU claim is denied. The propriety of the reduction in the rating for the right hip disability is remanded.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a left hip disability and a left shoulder disability, both secondary to service-connected right knee disability.,There is no direct evidence linking the current disabilities to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Board has upheld the severance of service connection for LLE radiculopathy and denied a higher initial disability rating. The claims for left foot, hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosed gastrointestinal disability manifested by chronic diarrhea, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent for duodenal ulcer with GERD and hoarseness.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for new nexus opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), bilateral hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities. However, as these conditions are not established by competent medical evidence, service connection itself is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, increased rating for right knee and low back disability due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right hip disabilities due to a lack of proper consideration of aggravation by his service-connected right knee conditions.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the November 2019 remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for several issues, including service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, back disability, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle disability, left ankle scar, left knee disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left hip, right hip, tremors (also claimed as nerves and shakes), and hypertension disabilities due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and myeloma. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected leg and ankle fracture.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hip disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining necessary records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, low back, right hip, left hip, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's military occupational specialty was infantryman, and he reported experiencing pain in his knees during a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for thoracolumbar strain and for service connection for a left hip disability and a right hip disability.