Hip decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right hip condition and left hip condition are related to her service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee, hip, shoulder, and neck disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, chronic disabilities related to dentures and gums, hip disabilities, and a stroke, must be remanded due to outstanding in-service medical records and VA medical records not being associated with the case file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and attempt to verify the Veteran's periods of duty as well as status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip condition and left hip condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding it secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The right foot and right hip disabilities are remanded due to lack of a VA examination addressing their relationship to service.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is already established.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease and bilateral heel spurs have been withdrawn. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, scar, left palm, and dermatophytosis are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including postoperative residuals of right total knee replacement surgery and staph infection, are at least as likely as not caused by or contributed to by his surgeries. The Board finds that these events were unforeseeable.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status was denied as he did not meet the requirements of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, which would qualify him for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for overactive bladder and ED have been withdrawn. The Board has also granted service connection for hypertension and fecal incontinence.,The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities (left and right hips) are remanded for further development as the VA examination is inadequate to address secondary aggravation or direct service connection.,The Veteran's scars, related to his right total hip arthroplasty, are also remanded for a more current evaluation.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is remanded due to the lack of recent medical evidence and an updated examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, right hip disability, and right-side back disability as secondary to his service-connected fourth right metatarsal stress fracture.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, cervical spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's skin disability, diagnosed as prurigo nodularis, is related to her military service and has been granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral foot, hand, hip, sleep apnea, and GERD disabilities are related to her active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right hip, left hip, and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hip disability and nasal disability due to inadequate opinions in previous remands. The cases are now pending further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities, finding that they were aggravated by active duty. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), but a VA examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip disability, left femur fracture with left knee arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for other specified anxiety disorder and acrophobia is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition, right knee disability, and right hip disability due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims are now pending and will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the record, including a lack of adequate VA examination and treatment records. The issues include service connection for a left hip disability, an increased rating for a back disability, and TDIU.