Hip decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left and right hip disabilities, and a cervical spine/neck disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions under the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service as a parachutist.,There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current spinal and hip conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, neck, and left knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied service connection for dizziness and remanded the claim of bilateral hip disability as secondary to knee disabilities. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete VA medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition and skin rash on buttocks and chest due to incomplete VA treatment records, missing SSA records, and inadequate VA examination. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint and foot disabilities on a secondary basis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 7, 2017 for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and metatarsalgia was denied as there is no evidence of a pre-existing implicit or explicit claim. The Board found that September 7, 2017 is the appropriate effective date.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and metatarsalgia was denied as there is no evidence to support a higher rating. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the addition of new evidence, including updated VA treatment records and VA examination reports. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain her private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, COPD, OSA secondary to PTSD, and other disabilities have been granted. The appeal is not about service connection for exposure-related conditions.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and an insomnia disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as 'flat feet') is denied. The VA examiner found no clear and specific etiology of the condition, attributing it to a prolonged period without complaint after service.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left hip condition are all denied. No evidence supports their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right hip condition are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted.,Service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, prostate condition, erectile dysfunction (ED), and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were not related to active service or any service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of sinusitis in the medical records.

The claims for service connection for right and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted. The claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, claimed as full body weakness (including joint weakness), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the period under consideration.,VA has not found any clinically significant right ankle, knee, hip, or low back disability in the Veteran's records.

The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD effective February 18, 2004. The issues of service connection for a shortened left leg and bilateral foot conditions were remanded. Fees in the amount of $40,134.28 are granted to the Veteran's former attorney.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as due to a personal assault during service.,Right shoulder DJD and dislocation are granted, with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, and right leg disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active military service.