Hip decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 11, 2015 for service connection and increased rating for other specified depressive disorder, as well as his claims for service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has found the January 2017 VA examination inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded several issues related to service connection. The Veteran's claims are now being returned for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded for further development regarding his right shoulder, hip, and knee disabilities due to potential Reserve service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip disability is dismissed as the benefit was granted in a January 2020 rating decision.,Claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of 20 percent for back and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are denied. The Veteran did not have these conditions prior to February 10, 2015.,Service connection is denied for neck disability as there is no evidence it was incurred or caused by service-connected conditions.,Increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for back and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded. The Veteran's current effective date is February 10, 2015.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea and asthma as there is no evidence they were incurred or caused by service-connected conditions.,Increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for right knee disability and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right hip disability, and right knee disability as secondary to a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's disabilities are not related to his lumbar spine disability or otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and right hip disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, hypertension, right foot and left foot disabilities, and hip disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and potential SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran is also required to undergo further medical examinations related to his knee, hip, back, neck, arthritis, foot, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, eye, lung, and hearing loss conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip disability and residuals of a head injury (claimed as skull fracture) due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's complaints of left hip pain since service are not adequately addressed, and there is insufficient evidence regarding any potential aggravation by his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and bilateral hip disabilities due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, cervical spine disability, low back disability, and right hip disability must be remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hip conditions and right and left leg radiculopathies are granted service connection.

The Veteran's pes planus has been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, with a current rating of 50 percent from May 29, 2018. The right ankle and low back disabilities have not yet been evaluated by VA.,Service connection for a neck disability and bilateral hip disability remains pending as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities, bilateral shoulder and hand disabilities, and bilateral hip disability due to inextricably intertwined issues. The VA must obtain addendum opinions from the February 2021 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability and a medical opinion on whether his current hip disability is secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of clear opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, fatigue secondary to OSA, and several other conditions have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability in some of these cases.,Service connection for right elbow condition, left elbow condition, left hip condition (secondary to trochanteric bursitis), and left knee condition (secondary to patellofemoral syndrome) has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for back and left hip disabilities, finding that the conditions are related to in-service injuries. The decision also notes that there is no evidence of a presumptive exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the RO did not substantially comply with the March 2020 Board remand directives and thus, the case is being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's right hip disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional review.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral leg disabilities, neck disability, back disability, and left hip disability.