Hip decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not comply with the September 2021 Board remand directives and finds an additional VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted a 30 percent rating from March 24, 2021. The bilateral plantar fasciitis remains at a 10 percent rating. The left hip disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left and right hip conditions were at least as likely as not related to service, including the physical demands of training.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a neurologic disorder, right and left shoulder, knee, hip, and ear disabilities. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to his in-service deep-sea diving experience.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation throughout the appeal period, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and contends that his current hearing loss was caused by in-service exposure to excessive noise. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the current hearing loss disability is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and hip disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various foot conditions, including pes planus, arthritis, bone spurs, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, and a bilateral hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability. The right hip and back disabilities are remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all nine issues is remanded due to incomplete factual predicates and the need for new VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine strain, service connection for left hip disability, and service connection for right hip disability due to inadequate examination reports and lack of an in-service disease or injury.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for his right ankle disability, PTSD effective date, and rash claims due to withdrawal. The Board has also remanded his claims for a right knee disability, left hip disability, and rash.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and left hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's service records and his contentions regarding in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel records, specifically for his periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training in the Louisiana Air National Guard and Connecticut Air National Guard from 1989 to 2011. The VA is instructed to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to outstanding records and an inadequate October 2019 VA examination. The case is being sent back to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and ankle disabilities as they are already compensated by his service-connected radiculopathy. The issues of initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, service connection for neck disability, service connection for bilateral shoulder disability (secondary to neck disability), and service connection for bilateral knee disability have been REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee claimed as instability has been withdrawn. The Veteran's left ankle condition is granted service connection due to its being proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability. The cases of hypertension and hip conditions are remanded for further review.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and TDIU as they have been fully granted in a February 2021 rating decision.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine spondylosis and thoracic spine compression fracture T7-T8.,Service connection is granted for headaches. Service connection is remanded for a right hip condition and head and face pain (claimed as sinusitis).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hip disability and right knee disability, as well as his TDIU claim due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.