Hip decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip and right knee conditions due to inadequate examinations in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of his hip and knee conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that these conditions did not have their onset in service or are not related to any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's post-operative scar resulting from removal of a sebaceous cyst resulted in several small surgical scars which were not deep, did not involve tissue loss, and were less than 39 sq. cm. in size.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address whether the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as social anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The left hip condition remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left hip disabilities, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's other claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right hip disabilities, finding that they are less likely than not related to his service-connected conditions.,The evidence did not show a direct link between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities. The left hip disability is not found to be related to any service-connected condition.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's left hip disability, which the Board determined did not have an onset within one year of separation from service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right hip disability due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for new VA examinations, and consideration of relevant medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records, request missing VA outpatient records, and schedule new medical examinations or obtain medical nexus opinions.

The Board has revised its August 2019 decision to grant service connection for a left hip disability due to clear and unmistakable error in the original decision. The Veteran's symptoms of a hip disability began during his demobilization process after deployment, as evidenced by the September 2011 post-deployment health assessment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability and a bilateral hip disability due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements about in-service injuries and symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding that the preponderance of evidence shows these conditions were not present in service or until many years thereafter, are not caused by an injury while serving with a Reserve Component, are not related to service or to an incident of service origin, and are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.,The Board also denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the preponderance of evidence shows it causes no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve at any time during the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee and hip disabilities, as well as a current evaluation of his right eye disability.

The Veteran's left hip disability, bilateral knee degenerative changes, left ankle osteoarthritis, and right foot disabilities are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's right hip disability was granted a 50% rating from May 1, 2011 to May 16, 2018. Since then, the Veteran has had his rating for this condition denied due to worsening symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the issues of left knee condition and bilateral hip conditions due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions from the January 2020 VA examiner. The effective date of service connection is denied as there was no prior claim for right foot tendonitis.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed.,Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hip and knee conditions, as well as a back strain. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.