Hip decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for recurrent hip and knee disabilities, as well as a recurrent lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential errors in the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as a left leg disability), left knee disability, and disabilities manifested by left heel pain and numbness of the left foot toe due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left hip disability. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence supporting an earlier effective date, and the current assigned ratings are considered appropriate based on the medical findings.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and her claimed low back, bilateral hip, right knee, and seizure disorders.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right hip condition are denied due to dishonorable discharge.,The Veteran's claims for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received.,Service connection is granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, with the presumption that it was incurred during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis. The Veteran did not have a current hip disability at the time of the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip disabilities and left lower extremity neuropathy due to incomplete development. The specific reasons for the remand include needing an addendum opinion explaining the damage to the right hip joint, as well as examining the current severity of the hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability rating was reduced from 40% to 10%, effective January 1, 2019. The reduction is now restored as the evidence does not show improvement in his condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed lumbar spine disability, as well as to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected left hip disabilities. The issues on appeal include service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to left knee and/or left hip disabilities, initial compensable ratings for left hip disabilities with specific limitations, and confirmation that these matters are addressed appropriately.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disabilities, arthritis, and trochanteric bursitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma or stress-related disorder and PTSD) claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence from VA clinicians. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service or is related to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his in-service fall, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine if the sartorius muscle injury and spurring at the acetabulum are related to his in-service fall.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his service-connected left knee disability or bilateral shin splints, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent since November 21, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date was denied. Service connection has been granted for left ankle, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for his left inguinal hernia repair scar is granted. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hip and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hip condition, sinus condition, congenital hypothyroidism, neck condition, and left knee condition have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for a neck condition and a left knee condition are remanded due to the submission of new evidence material to these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to missing VA treatment records from October 2018 to July 2020. These records are necessary to evaluate the probative value of a clinician's opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder and has remanded his claims regarding right knee, left knee, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence.