Hip decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee and bilateral hip disabilities, both of which are also claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for a new VA examination to accurately assess the Veteran's left hip disability, including her reported limitation of flexion.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing LCP disease was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and other specified disorder was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, drug abuse, left hip disability, right knee disability, and right foot pes planus were dismissed or remanded as appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip conditions, finding that the Veteran's hip pain is more likely caused by his morbid obesity rather than his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran reported having hip pain since childhood and that his condition worsened during service, but there is no clear medical documentation supporting these assertions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right hip disability and left hip disability due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and hip disability. The issue of service connection for back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyslipidemia was denied as it does not qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes. Other claims are pending, including those for sleep apnea, back disability, hip disabilities, ankle disabilities, psychiatric disability, and inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to service, while his bilateral hip, left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not. The Board has remanded the issue of a left-hand disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, sleep apnea, and low back disability. The Veteran's left hip disability and right shoulder disability have been denied.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis as it is presumed to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left rotator cuff disability, left hip disability, and breathing disability. Service connection for headaches has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted.,However, the right carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow/back issues are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is caused by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and right hip disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection was denied for left ankle disability due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities (residuals of right and left hip joint replacement) as secondary to his service-connected knee disability. The claim for a separate rating for his service-connected left ulnar nerve neuropathy was denied, and the TDIU determination was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in notification, service connection theory, and lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip disability and hearing loss due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's left hip disability may be related to physical activity in service, but this needs further clarification from a VA medical opinion. For his hearing loss, there is insufficient evidence to establish its relationship to service noise exposure.