Hip decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is granted. The Board finds that service connection is warranted based on in-service events and current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are related to his service-connected conditions or if they were caused by other factors. The claims will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. Service connection is established for low back disability, left hip disability, left thigh disability, and bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible reports of in-service stressors, which are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left hip, and right hip conditions have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and denied service connection for left hip condition. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries during active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to March 22, 2019 was denied as he had a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability secondary to his lumbar spine disability. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection and initial ratings for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left lumbar radiculopathy, right knee disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and left elbow disability are denied. Service connection for major depressive disorder is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip disability, finding no current diagnosis and attributing his symptoms to his already service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The appeal of other issues was withdrawn.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and for further addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability.

The Veteran's hymenoptera allergy and left hip condition have been granted service connection. The left hip condition is considered secondary to the use of steroids for his hymenoptera allergy.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The issues have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for recurrent low back strain and service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no persuasive evidence to support these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed low back, hand, hip, and foot disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of credible in-service injury history. The esophageal cancer and foot neuropathy claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, bilateral hand disability, and left hip disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to a failure to comply with VA's duty to assist and a prior remand order. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular rating criteria for a grant of TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) throughout the period at issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The Veteran's symptoms are being evaluated, including those related to his right hip, bilateral knees, and arthritis of the hands, arms, and legs.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. His 10% rating for allergic rhinitis is restored, and his claims for other conditions are remanded.