Hip decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of the issue with his service connection claims. His lower back injury and bilateral hip disability have been granted, but further development is needed for compensation for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for a left leg disability is granted prior to March 17, 2021. From March 17, 2021, the Veteran's condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip conditions, specifically whether they are secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the service connection issues.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of broken ribs, left arm compound fracture, right leg fracture, and right hip disability as there is no current disability to support these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including new VA examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, right hip condition, left hip condition, obesity, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathies have not been linked to service or a service-connected disability. As such, the claims for these conditions are denied.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremities were evaluated separately in this decision.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's left hip disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not show marked severe residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete service records and lack of VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to her military service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective December 2, 2016. Service connection for hip and ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 18, 2001 for the award of service connection for left hip disability. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in May 1972 due to a pre-existing condition that worsened during service. A new application was submitted in June 2001, and after review of medical evidence, the Board found that the current disability is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various elbow, hand, hip, and shoulder disabilities as well as thyroid disability (hypothyroidism) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during active duty or until many years after separation.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran died during the pendency of this case.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for several issues, including a nonservice-connected pension, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left rotator cuff strain, and service connection for left hip and right hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective date for a 40% rating for tear of quadriceps femoris muscle, left thigh, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left hip disability was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The case will be returned for further development and an adequate addendum opinion.

The Board has granted a maximum schedular 50 percent rating for service-connected headaches, effective since November 6, 2020. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of the issues of service connection for OSA and left-side carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's initial rating for left hip disability is granted at 70 percent, effective from the date of claim. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various disabilities, including elbow, cervical spine, thoracic spine, wrist, hip, knee, bronchitis, and lumbar spine disabilities.