Hip decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability due to new evidence and medical opinions needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg and left hip conditions, finding that there is no credible evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, right hip, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's right shoulder and right hand disabilities are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left hip, right hip, and low back disabilities. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining medical opinions to address service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions are remanded for further development to determine their etiology and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of private treatment records.

The Board has denied a higher initial rating for the lumbar spine DDD and remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine DDD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hematologic disability is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current hematologic disability began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current respiratory disability began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg/hip disability is remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, foot, and knee disabilities due to internal inconsistency in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The RO is required to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability or aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings of 40 percent for residuals of a right femur fracture with right knee and hip disability, and noncompensable for residuals of a fracture, right tibial plateau, are appropriate.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder prior to January 10, 2020. However, it denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent and remanded the left hip condition claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and psychotic disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 31, 2007 to July 17, 2013. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that further examination and evaluation are needed to determine the nature of the Veteran's hypertension, eye disabilities, sinus disability, knee disabilities, hip disability, and whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip and right knee disabilities, specifically whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and denied service connection for right leg varicose veins, left leg varicose veins, a right hip disability, and a sleep disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus first manifested in service and has continued since then. The Board resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for left hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during active duty.