Hip decisions — 2020

The Veteran's kidney disease is granted as secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, and both knees disabilities are denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain VA medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for seizure disability, right hip and knee disabilities, left hip disability, and a temporary total rating. The National Personnel Records Center was instructed to search for the Veteran’s service medical and personnel records using her correct name.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right hip and right knee disabilities.,The Board finds that further development, including a new VA examination by an examiner other than the one who conducted the December 2019 examination, is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip and right knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a right hip disability due to lack of medical documentation during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee disability is dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue. The Board has remanded several other issues including peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, skin disability (PFB), bilateral kidney disability, hearing loss, insomnia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and eye conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his alcohol dependence is not service-connected. The low back, hip, knee, and leg disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and residuals of a head injury. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.,The Board found that the Veteran did not experience any current disability due to his claimed right shoulder disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral hip disability, or residuals of a head injury which could be attributed to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his in-service activities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for various issues related to his spine, wrist, and hip conditions due to new evidence submitted after a previous decision.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability were denied as they are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, right hip disability, and pes planus of the right foot due to inadequate VA examinations in April 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for poliomyelitis, right foot disability (excluding residuals of poliomyelitis), and right hip disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and back disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to consider new evidence from VA examinations in April 2018 and February 2020, and obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and foot disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 15, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extra-schedular basis. The Veteran's left hip and right knee disabilities have had a profound effect on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 15, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's left foot tailor's bunion was granted service connection. The remaining issues of right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the left hip.