Hip decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and neck disability have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issues of cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to a thoracolumbar disability. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at a 10 percent rating for limitation of adduction, and the Board has granted this. However, ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for limitations of flexion and extension.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and lumbar strain have been granted earlier effective dates of July 9, 2010.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted. The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff issues and degenerative joint disease are due to repetitive-use injuries during active service.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip, right thigh, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded for clarification of the July 2021 private opinion regarding obesity as an intermediate step. The examiner must provide a rationale addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, and if so, whether the obesity was a substantial factor in causing the claimed bilateral ankle, right hip, or right thigh conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected left hand disability has been remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection. The examiner must address both causation and aggravation to be deemed adequate. If aggravation is found, the examiner should attempt to quantify the degree of additional disability resulting from the aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip condition, right knee condition, and arthritis due to conflicting evidence regarding diagnoses and possible relationships to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left hip disability is granted, with the highest available rating of 10% being restored from April 18, 2011 to October 27, 2016. The issue of an increased rating prior to this date remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to November 30, 2016. The VA must obtain all outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability and its secondary effects on other conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, right ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran testified that his current disabilities began during active service while performing boxing activities and drills.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as presumptively due to herbicide agent exposure during service. The claim for bilateral hip disability secondary to service-connected knee disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,No rating has been assigned as the appeal is not about a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The claims will be reviewed again, including obtaining new medical opinions and SSA records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including those related to the Veteran's left great toe, back, hips, shoulder, and heart conditions. The issues of service connection for cat scratch fever are also inextricably intertwined with these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. Other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral hammer toes, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, right hip, and left hip conditions as secondary to bilateral knee disability. Additionally, the claim for respiratory condition is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address all relevant evidence. The issues include lumbar spine, left knee, left hip disabilities, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for left wrist, right knee, IBS, migraine headaches, vocal cord dysfunction, and right hip/wrist disabilities are inadequate. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to provide further development.