Hip decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, but the other conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip condition is remanded. The appeal is granted to grant an initial 50 percent rating, but no higher, for major depressive disorder with persistent depressive disorder prior to December 20, 2018.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 10 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence reasonably shows that his migraines have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, corresponding to the criteria for at least a 10 percent rating under DC 8100. Other issues related to left hip disability, unspecified anxiety disorder and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for hip disabilities related to knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for right hip disability secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including as due to his service-connected left hip disability or the medications prescribed to treat it. The evidence does not support finding an etiological link between the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability and active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left hip disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability, and other conditions are granted. The remaining issues on appeal (left ankle disability, hand and shoulder disabilities, knee disabilities, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and tinnitus) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle and hip conditions, as well as a neck condition. The case will be returned to VA for further examination and determination of etiology.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a right hip disability as it was granted in a January 2023 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and ED. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding his neck, shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities as well as hypertension and acid reflux. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent hip, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities is granted. Service connection for COPD is also granted due to environmental toxin exposure in Southwest Asia. The right hip disability claim has been reopened, but further evidence is needed regarding the treatment received during active service.

The Board has denied service connection for various ankle, knee, leg, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and arm disabilities on the grounds that there is no evidence of their onset in service or a relationship to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability. The claim will be further developed with an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including OSA, sarcoidosis, back disability, radiculopathy, and hip disabilities are granted. However, some issues remain remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left hip disability, right hip disability, and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of sufficient evidence or examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with some potentially related to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is not related to service or his service-connected hypothyroidism with history of Grave's disease, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection with effective dates of June 27, 2013. Effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, left knee and bilateral hip disabilities as there was no evidence of onset in service or within one year following discharge. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be causally related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being reviewed again.