Hip decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the previous remand instructions were not followed and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's left hip disability is related to service, specifically his physical activities during service. The examiner must also assess whether the disability is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current hip disabilities are not presumed related to his military service, but a medical opinion is needed to determine if they are otherwise etiologically linked.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic bronchitis is denied. The initial ratings for PTSD are granted at 70 percent since July 18, 2013 and the TDIU claim is granted effective July 18, 2013. Other service connection claims are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right knee scar was denied as the scar did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7805.,The Board found that the Veteran's right hip and left knee conditions are related to his service-connected right knee condition, but remanded for additional opinions on whether these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing information about the qualifications of the VA examiners who examined him.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the entire period under review, both on a schedular and extraschedular basis due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a VA examination to determine if any current left hip, buttocks, or lower extremity disability is related to service.

The Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of interincisal range less than or equal to 11-20 mm without dietary restrictions. The left and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for GERD, as the previous VA opinion was inadequate. The Veteran's bilateral hip conditions are denied due to lack of a nexus between her active duty and current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a left hip disability due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has received a withdrawal request from the appellant, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left, right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of a separate left hip disability other than the already service-connected radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her low back disability, chronic sinusitis, left hip disability, right elbow disability, right arm injury with neuropathy, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected foot disability and the need for convalescence following bunionectomies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, right hip disability, and left hip disability. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left hip disability and hypertension due to incomplete medical opinions. The VA needs to provide more detailed assessments regarding whether these conditions are related to service, especially considering secondary service connection.

The Board dismissed the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a right hip disability from February 22, 2017, to April 18, 2017, due to the Veteran's opt-in to the AMA appeals system and the absence of a decision on the higher-level review request.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 2, 2005. The decision also notes that the criteria for this grant have been met based on her service-connected back and bilateral hip conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The respiratory disability claim is denied, but the low back, right hip, bilateral knee, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.