Hip decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee osteoarthritis and tinnitus, made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 5, 2011. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during this period.

The Board has denied the claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence was not presented to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip conditions due to errors in obtaining medical records and inadequate reasons and bases provided by the VA.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral restless leg syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's gynecomastia, right and left knee patellar tendonitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis and hiatal hernia are granted. The Veteran's right and left elbow disability, right and left hip disability, and right hammer toe are denied.

The Veteran withdrew all active appeals regarding the service connection issues listed in his May 18, 2022 Notice of Disagreement. The appeal is dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and left hip condition due to the lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions.

An effective date of February 24, 2006 is granted for the grant of service connection for bilateral hip disability due to its secondary nature to left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to the September 2022 and October 2022 VA examinations on the back and bilateral hips. The Veteran's disabilities include a back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy (bilateral), right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back pain, right ankle condition, right hip condition, and right knee condition must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the June 2017 rating decision. The AOJ will need to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions from a clinician.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to her military service.,A reduction in the rating for migraine headaches from 10 percent to noncompensable was upheld as supported by recent medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lethargy, bilateral leg sciatic nerve pain, bilateral hip condition, and low back condition. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 90 percent effective September 14, 2023. Prior to this date, the rating was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded again due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and further development is needed for examinations related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current right ear or left ear hearing loss to a level recognized as a ratable disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, bilateral hip, bilateral hand (claimed as arthritis), and left knee conditions due to a lack of persuasive evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions during or recent to the filing of his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right hip disability, and right lower extremity nerve condition due to inadequate VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; left hip condition; right hip condition; left knee pain; right knee pain; and left shoulder condition due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has denied service connection for rhinitis and right hip condition as there is no current disability found by the evidence, either by diagnosis or showing of impairment of earning capacity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and lack of updated medical records.