Hip decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disability (COPD), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, back disability, hip disabilities, and foot disabilities. The cause of death is also under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart murmur have been denied. The Board has found that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service. His current right foot deformity is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD to include alcohol abuse has precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 2016, and he is now granted a TDIU rating effective February 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in the August 2017 VA examination and the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right hip condition is related to service or secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's PTSD, left hip disability and right knee disability have been granted ratings. TDIU has also been granted from April 28, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incorrect legal standard in the previous VA examination and the need for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current right hip disability is related to service-connected right knee and/or ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability and low back condition, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within a presumptive period, and that any current disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The cases of right hip, left hip, and COPD are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability due to inadequate VA examination findings. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to service, particularly his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. The Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded for further examination and determination of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's left and right hip disabilities were productive of painful motion, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and reopening of hip disabilities is remanded due to the use of an incorrect form. The Board will issue a SOC so the Veteran can decide whether to continue his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities, as well as his residuals of a stomping injury to the left foot, onychomycosis of the left foot, and athlete's foot of the left foot, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left hip and lumbar spine disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The PTSD claim requires a remand to obtain an updated VA examination. The hearing loss and respiratory disability claims also require additional examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for a bilateral hip condition secondary to right leg phlebitis and TDIU prior to November 15, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements in previous VA examinations.