Hip decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his right ankle, cervical spine, left hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability. The examiner did not consider all relevant evidence and provided a speculative opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as service connection for right hip and lumbar spine disabilities, are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and bilateral hip disability due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, wrist, hand, leg, shoulder, spine, and hearing loss disabilities due to incomplete information in the record. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records and undergo examinations to determine if any of these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip condition and low back disability due to their secondary nature to service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to clarify whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected knees.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as the Veteran did not undergo a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and prostate cancer. Service connection is also granted for back disability, but the issue of hip disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability and bilateral hip disability due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms in service are considered, but the VA examiner found it speculative to link these conditions to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip, right hip, and back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded as the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied because there is no evidence that the condition began during or immediately after military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition, finding that the current severity of the right hip condition was greater than before aggravation due to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected trochanteris pain syndrome of the left hip, and for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, sleep apnea, and fatigue are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded as his current diagnosis of CFS was not made by the VA examiner who evaluated him. The claim for service connection for fatigue is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left foot plantar fasciitis and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The low back disability is denied, but the right and left hip disabilities remain pending due to lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for her right hip condition due to new evidence and a need for an addendum opinion considering all medications, including chemotherapy.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's foot disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's hearing loss and dizziness claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right hip condition and acquired psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia) are granted service connection. The low back and left knee conditions, which are secondary to the bilateral hip conditions, remain in dispute.,A remand is ordered for further development of the low back and left knee issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and additional records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's right and left hip disabilities, including any secondary effects from service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities are granted as secondary to her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.,A request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed.