Hip decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination or opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left leg and hip disability, as well as a thoracolumbar spine disability due to additional development being needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC), due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities related to service or functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot condition, a left hip condition, a right hip condition, and a left shoulder condition. The claim for a compensable rating for the nasal fracture was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for asthma, a left knee disability, and the readjudication of previously denied claims for erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, a left hip disability, and migraines.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities due to a need for a VA examination and medical nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle, left hip, left knee, right hip, and right knee conditions due to failure of the Veteran to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ear hearing distortion is currently rated as Level I, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Tinnitus has been assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to a procedural defect in how the appeal was filed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. Service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxious mood and/or depressed mood, and any other mental disorders are denied due to lack of a formal DSM-5 diagnosis during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected left hip disability aggravates the Veteran's right hip disability. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has determined that the medical opinions provided for the right knee and right hip disabilities are not adequate, constituting a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and for providing informed consent documentation.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the period for filing a VA Form 10182 as to the March 2021 decision on service connection issues is dismissed because the appeal has already been pending and docketed at the Board.

The Veteran's right ear condition with dizziness is granted service connection. The claims for left ear, heart, chest pain, prostate, stomach, neck, back, hip, ankle, and foot conditions are denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities to obtain adequate etiology opinions that apply the new 'but-for' Spicer standard.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is service-connected as it was caused by his in-service injuries to his knees and back, which led to joint pain and an altered gait putting strain on his hips.

The Veteran's left hip disability status post hip replacement is granted a 70 percent evaluation from July 1, 2021. The claim for an increased rating for left hip scarring is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right index finger disability residual to injury, low back disability (lumbar radiculopathy), left hip disability, right hip disability, and left knee and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service-connected. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities are remanded.