Hip decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases of a right shoulder disability and a left hip disability for further development to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding their onset during service.

All appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for prostate cancer has been granted due to exposure to chemicals in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right hip disabilities due to incomplete records, including missing service medical and personnel records. The VA is required to obtain these records and provide an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left rib condition is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, hip, and respiratory conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip disability and heart disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the impact of medications prescribed for service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip and heart disabilities are being reviewed again with consideration of any use of prednisone.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability (claimed as back pain), left hip disability (claimed as left hip pain), right hip disability (claimed as right hip pain), left foot disability (claimed as left foot cramps), and right foot disability (claimed as right foot cramps) due to lack of evidence of a current disability in service or related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the January 2023 VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service are not addressed by the examiners.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left hip conditions have not met the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.,Specifically, his hip conditions do not meet the requirements for ankylosis or functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for folliculitis of the scalp is granted. The Board found that a current diagnosis of folliculitis was established during service and not due to any pre-existing condition or another service-connected disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating. The effective date for this grant is not specified.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right foot disability, finding that there is no evidence linking the hip disability to the right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, and degenerative arthritis lumbar spine due to insufficient credentialing documents provided by VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, kidney condition, valvular heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, stomach condition, asbestosis, ankle conditions, back disability, knee conditions, arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, knee strain, and knee instability, status post total knee arthroplasty, is granted. The claims for secondary service connection for a left hip disability and a left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and hip disabilities due to incomplete records and need for VA examinations.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of entitlement to service connection for athlete's foot, also claimed as foot fungus. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the award of a combined 100 percent evaluation. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and depressive disorder with a major depressive episode and anxious distress due to chronic pain disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for loss of teeth has been denied. The reduction in her migraines' disability rating from 70% to 50% is upheld, and she is granted a restoration of the 50% rating effective October 4, 2018. Other claims are pending.