Hip decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left hip disability, and rash are remanded due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that he has established good cause for missing his scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and medical opinions regarding whether a left hip disability, including osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is related to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran contends that his current hip condition is due to his service-connected right knee injury.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's accrued benefits claims, including determining whether his elder daughter is an eligible substitute and whether his sleep apnea, right hip disability, and left hip disability are service-connected. The Board also found that a new opinion was needed regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran's service records indicate he served in Afghanistan, but no specific exposure basis is provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to an issue being intertwined with another currently in remand status. The Veteran's left hip disability claim is now pending for further review.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death during the pendency of the case.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if the Veteran's left hip and right shoulder disabilities are caused or worsened by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is not service-connected as it did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evidentiary development due to conflicting medical opinions and additional pathology identified in a recent MRI study.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various joint disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs a new opinion on whether the Veteran's left hip condition is related to service.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for bilateral hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and back disability were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The decision is based on medical opinions that suggest a leg length discrepancy may contribute to the Veteran's current hip and knee pain.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including those related to service connection for various conditions. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical examination and opinion to determine if any right hip disability is related to service or aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination and development of records, particularly regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an inaccurate factual basis in the previous medical opinions. The Veteran is entitled to full consideration of his claims, including considering his continuous symptoms during honorable active service.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted a 30 percent rating prior to July 10, 2021 and a 20 percent rating from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for the right hip and 30 percent for the left hip.