Hip decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain service connection is denied.,Service connection for left hip condition and respiratory condition (COPD) are both denied.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for any right hip condition and status post left hip replacement, as well as the issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, evaluation of right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, evaluations for radiculopathy of lower extremities, and TDIU prior to September 15, 2017. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's right foot disability is granted, and the Board has found that a remand is necessary for an additional examination of his right hip disability due to inadequate information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's bilateral hip condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome. The claims for increased evaluations of the service-connected lumbar spine IVDS, right lower extremity sciatica, and left lower extremity sciatica are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased disability ratings for his left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder prior to October 27, 2020 was denied. Claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for stress fracture left hip with trochanteric bursitis and limitation of abduction/adduction were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increase ratings, service connection, and SMC due to new evidence received since the March 2020 statement of the case. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be affected by the readjudication of other claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service exposure to herbicide agents and the need for additional medical opinions on various musculoskeletal conditions, liver condition, bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, respiratory condition, and colon condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding the Veteran's hip, shoulder, and foot conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to inadequate opinions in some cases, and requests for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of his left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for an increase in rating beyond the currently assigned noncompensable (zero percent) rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional private treatment records. The Board will determine if his current bilateral hip disability is related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for arthritis, residual right finger injury, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to withdrawal by the appellant's representative. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability (including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome), thoracolumbar spine disability (including intervertebral disc syndrome), and right hip disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in the addendum opinion, which did not discuss a study referenced in the September 2020 examiner's opinion. The Veteran's right hip disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete STRs and lack of VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a bilateral hip condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, but denied all other issues due to lack of evidence or failure to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hands and feet disabilities, bilateral knees disabilities, hypertension, back, neck, hips, shoulders, legs, left shoulder condition, right shoulder arthritis, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, back condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right leg condition, left leg condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition.