Hip decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sciatica, back disability, right hip and knee disabilities, cold injury residuals, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder of the feet, fibromyalgia, stroke with left-side balance impairment, headaches (migraines), degenerative bone disease, heart disability, muscle pain and soreness, and a left eye disability. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's lung disability, low back disability, upper back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, sinus disability, memory loss, hypertension, colon polyps, prostate disability, stomach disability, skin disability (including skin cancer and actinic keratosis), throat disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney cysts, and liver cyst are all denied. However, the Veteran's lung disability is granted as due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability, including left hip osteoarthritis and left hip greater trochanter bursitis, and a left thigh disability, including neuropathy of the peroneal nerve. The Veteran's torn groin and ripped anal region claims were denied as not related to service.,The Board has also granted service connection for a skin disability. The Veteran reported experiencing rashes since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for left knee and bilateral hip conditions due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran contends that his right knee condition caused functional impairment in his hips and left knee.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the effective date for service connection of a right ankle disability and an initial increased rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The bilateral hip disability claim is also being remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's neuralgia of the left ilio-inguinal nerve with hypesthesia and lymphedema of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 60 percent, but a higher rating is denied.,Initial ratings for his left hip disability are granted: 10 percent for limitation of extension, 30 percent for limitation of flexion, and 20 percent for impairment of the thigh.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to comply with VA's duty to assist in obtaining missing VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for these records, and any relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied as there is no evidence of hip pain or disability during his active duty. The Board found the Veteran's statements inconsistent with the objective medical record and concluded that any contention regarding ongoing hip pain from service was less credible.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left ankle conditions due to insufficient examination findings. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left leg or knee, and right leg or knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral elbow disability, hip disability, knee disability, shoulder disability, ankle disability, erythema nodosum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral arm disability has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not establish that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability. The decision on the cervical spine issue is pending due to a need for an additional VA medical opinion.

The appeal to readjudicate the claims for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip disability, back disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and leg radiculopathies, are not considered sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU from September 25, 2005, to October 29, 2010.