Hip decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically regarding obtaining a medical opinion from an appropriate VA physician with experience in amputations and prostheses. The AOJ is instructed to obtain such an opinion to determine when the Veteran's right lower extremity would have no effective function remaining other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump with prosthesis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and hip disabilities have been reopened, but the issues are still being reviewed due to new evidence. The eligibility for certain benefits such as specially adapted housing or financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right hip disability is denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are also denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left forearm disability and a bilateral hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed all issues related to service connection for various knee and foot disabilities due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee disabilities, back disability, and left hip disability. The issues have also been remanded for a jaw disability claim.

The Veteran's asthma with bronchitis claim is denied as the evidence does not show that her FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC levels meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for right inguinal hernia strain, residuals of TBI, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and service connection for bilateral hip disability have been dismissed due to inadequate substantive appeals.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain has been remanded.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and has remanded the issues of service connection for a skin disability, bilateral hip disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with Osgood Schlatters disease with instability is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its inextricability with the service connection for a bilateral hip disability. The issues will be reconsidered together.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hip, neck, knee, and shoulder disabilities due to their relationship with a now-service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding a bilateral hip disability and the other regarding memory loss, both of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion for his bilateral hip disability and additional evidence should be considered for his memory loss claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining STRs and portions of her OMPF. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the nature and etiology of any current right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 40 percent, hypertension and left knee and hip disabilities are granted service connection, but sleep apnea remains pending. The application to reopen the claims for left knee, hypertension, and left hip disorders was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hip disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff tendonitis, and left shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff tendonitis due to incomplete service treatment records and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective date of July 1, 2020. The conditions were found to be related to his active duty service.