Hip decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, low back, left hip, right knee, right ankle, right foot, and right hand conditions, as well as his erectile dysfunction (orchiodynia), head injury, headaches, anxiety, and depression. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury was granted. The claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right hip strain, and lumbar spine osteoarthritis and degenerative spondylosis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, left hip disability, right ankle disability, low back disability, neck disability and migraine headaches. The Board found that the evidence supports these claims as they are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Appellant, as appellants' claims do not survive their death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and a need to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, and fibromyalgia as the appellant did not have an injury during INACDUTRA that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's back disorder, right hip disabilities, and left hip disabilities are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for left hip and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Elmendorf AFB hospital.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), but denied for left knee, low back, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a recent Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision in Ward v. Wilkie, which held that secondary service connection is warranted for any incremental increase in disability resulting from service-connected conditions.