Hip decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for a left knee disability has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The issues of service connection for a left hip disability and an increased rating for back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in October 2019 were inadequate for adjudicative purposes. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right ear hearing loss, low back condition, left knee condition, left hip condition, cholecystitis, and GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of STRs and need for further examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and additional development is needed, including obtaining private medical records and conducting further VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain in remand status.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 30% rating effective February 29, 2016. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar discogenic disease.,Service connection for a hiatal hernia is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left hip disabilities. The reasons are that additional development is needed to address the current severity of these conditions due to gaps in medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar calluses and for a right ankle disability. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of either condition, and that any pain or discomfort did not constitute a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, left hip, and right hip disabilities as they are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,Service connection has been granted for residuals of left arm burn scar.

The Board denied service connection for various orthopedic and ocular conditions, as well as COPD or other pulmonary disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate statement of reasons and bases, specifically regarding the Veteran's right hip disability. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the current disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for right hand disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. Service connection was granted for left ear hearing loss and the Veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation for chronic rhinitis.,Service connection was established for left ear hearing loss based on noise exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and requires a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right hip conditions.