Hip decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral hip disability and a bilateral knee disability due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding his orthotics/air splints in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right lower extremity, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his service-connected right thigh gunshot wound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, lower back, and right hip conditions are remanded due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran contends her current conditions are related to her time in active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, sleep disorder, right leg disability, left leg disability, right hip disability, and left hand disability as they were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection was also denied for a right hand disability due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right hip disability was rated as residuals of a right hip fracture with arthritis and painful joints, but the evidence did not show that symptoms produced limited flexion or extension to meet criteria for an increased rating. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left hip condition is related to his service-connected right knee condition. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left hip disabilities, did not have onset in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and a lack of asbestos exposure information.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining orthopedic issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, and back disability.,Service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for left shoulder, hand, hip, leg, and foot disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical disability. The claim for urinary incontinence is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral knee condition secondary to a low back disability is denied.,Service connection for sleep condition secondary to low back disability is denied. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a sleep disorder.,Cervicogenic headaches are found less likely than not caused or aggravated by service-connected tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral hip condition is remanded as there are no STRs from Germany available for review.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability, sleep disturbance, and a dental condition. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all his remaining appeal issues, including service connection for bipolar disorder and ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bronchial asthma, and left hip disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the development sought as part of the April 2022 remand and has therefore ordered further development for service connection claims related to left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, shoulder, knee, and spine disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms during or following service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, and hip disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran's knee disabilities were related to active service, but did not provide a clear opinion on whether his hip disabilities are secondary to his knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, right hip, and back conditions due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and service.,Specifically, the Veteran's current diagnoses were not linked to any in-service injury or event.