Hip decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various hand, hip, and knee disabilities due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions provided by the RO. The Veteran's representative asserts that his hip disabilities may be secondary to his knee disabilities.

The Board has previously remanded the claim of service connection for a left hip disability. Another remand is required due to new evidence being added without readjudication.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for tinnitus as it was granted in a separate decision. The remaining claims of service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for a rating in excess of 20 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee with instability, service connection for lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee conditions, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, left foot bunion and/or right foot bunionectomy residuals. The Veteran will need to provide information about any healthcare providers who have treated him for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and bipolar disorder), with aggravation by service-connected conditions.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied.,Initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for neck, seizure, and TDIU disabilities are remanded.,No effective date provided as the decision pertains to current service connection status.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities, attributing them to the Veteran's parachute jumping activities during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, back disability, coccyx disability, left testicle epididymitis, and right hip disability are all granted. The cases of the back, coccyx, and right hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include service connection for various hip, knee, and back disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative changes and strain, is denied as not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral eye disability, headaches, psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, knee and hip disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hearing loss, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether a pre-existing low back condition existed prior to service. The case is being returned for further development and an opinion on this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for new VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as the previous opinions did not adequately address the aggravation prong of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lichen planus simplex has been denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus is currently rated at the maximum allowable rating of 10 percent. The Board has granted service connection for a secondary left hip disability due to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability, specifically whether it is related to service or if it was aggravated by a superimposed disease or injury.

The appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for chronic open angle glaucoma and nuclear sclerotic cataracts is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral elbow disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral wrist disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a spine disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for RBD is denied.