Hip decisions — 2021

The Veteran's autoimmune disorder manifested by hair loss is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's skin condition (claimed as photosensitivity with melasma) is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's irregular menstrual cycle is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's loss of an ovary secondary to an irregular menstrual cycle is being remanded due to its connection with the irregular menstrual cycle, which is also being remanded.,The Veteran's right kidney condition is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability and right hip disability are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they were caused or aggravated by her service-connected low back disability, as well as any other potential causes such as in-service falls.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for a bilateral hip condition, which may be related to the Veteran's left knee injury. The case will need additional medical opinions and possibly more VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding obesity and its relation to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is granted. The Board has also remanded issues related to his bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip disability, left upper extremity sensory deficit, and left shoulder disability, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions did not worsen during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for major depression. The issues of service connection and increased rating for knee and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records, including from chiropractors prior to April 2011, and arrange for a new examination by an orthopedic surgeon.

The Veteran's sinusitis and headaches are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during service in Afghanistan. The left hip disability and left leg radiculopathy are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for back disability, headache condition, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from Charleston VA Medical Center dated between 1978 and 2001.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and other issues, including a remand for new opinions on the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, cardiac disability (including heart palpitations), and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and did not grant the Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and asthma were denied service connection as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The eye condition due to trauma, lumbar strain, and right hip pain issues are remanded for further development.,Service connection for the Veteran's current diagnoses will be reconsidered based on new evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were granted. The claim for bilateral hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for bilateral knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and their relationship to active duty, including exposure to G-forces as a pilot.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Hip Disability, finding that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tendinitis and bursitis of the left hip and musculoligamentous strain of the left knee due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions are needed to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The claims of service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for ratings of his left hip and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been denied as a matter of law.,The claim for an earlier effective date for the bronchial asthma rating has also been denied, with the earliest possible effective date being March 6, 2009.