Hip decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, which required a total hip replacement, is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral knee condition and the pain he experienced during basic training. As such, the claim for service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence is needed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a left hip condition should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran testified about ongoing pain in her left hip, and the VA examiner found limited range of motion but no current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for extraschedular TDIU prior to March 27, 2019 due to the collective impact of his service-connected disabilities not preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment in a sedentary environment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evaluation.,No new rating assigned as the maximum schedular ratings were not assigned for the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left hip disability, finding that it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hip condition, and left ankle disorder as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected left first MTP joint disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's esophageal reflux claim was not addressed as it does not fall under the scope of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various other conditions have also been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left hip disability, skin disability (psoriasis, tinea pedis and tinea corporis), restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, residuals of esophageal diverticulum, and a left eye condition. The primary reasons were lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

A rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity neurological impairment is granted, effective prior to September 16, 2020. A rating in excess of 20 percent for the same condition beginning September 16, 2020 is denied.,Service connection for left hip disability and back disability is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left or right hip disability during the appeal period.,There is also no evidence of a current left or right shoulder disability, and the Veteran's lay assertions cannot constitute competent medical evidence in support of a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for back disability, bilateral hip condition, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence. The claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability had its onset during active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to insufficient etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the evidence does not support that any of the service-connected disabilities alone or in combination prevented him from obtaining employment.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee condition, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for chronic low back strain was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The Veteran's service records need to be obtained and added to the claims file.

The Board has dismissed the claim for TDIU and has remanded the increased rating claims for further development.