Hip decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right hip disabilities, as well as initial compensable ratings for various hip strain disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent hip, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to potential pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, vertigo, sleep apnea, and neurological impairment of the upper and lower extremities due to cold exposure, have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions or their claimed causes.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right hip disability and left hip disability should be remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot neuropathy posterior tibial nerve disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to symptoms being primarily mild.,Both of the Veteran's hip disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5252. The Board denies entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for both right and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event related to the claimed female sexual arousal, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for the right leg disability, left leg disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is denied due to lack of an in-service disease or injury.,The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an adequate addendum opinion prior to the May 2021 rating decision on appeal regarding the Veteran's left and right hip conditions. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The VA will now readjudicate these claims based on the additional evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including GERD and several musculoskeletal conditions. The initial rating for GERD was denied due to the lack of symptoms meeting a higher rating criteria. Other claims are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service-connected periods.

Service connection for depression, a psychiatric disorder manifested by nightmares/sleep condition, and right hip disability is denied.,The Veteran's asthma claim is remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including headaches, residuals of a fractured left thumb, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and various hip and back conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is any link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the March 2021 VA opinion regarding the onset of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to additional etiology opinions on his acquired psychiatric, respiratory, cardiac, vestibular, hearing loss/tinnitus, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection, but her left ankle and hip disabilities are denied.