Hip decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral upper/lower extremity residuals of cold injury, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his limited mobility and balance issues. The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with the adequacy of the VA examiner's opinion and the consideration of post-service treatment records. The Veteran's left hip disability is being returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The right hip disability issue is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The IBS, overactive bladder disability, and hearing loss disability are being remanded as they may be related to toxic exposure from service. Service connection is granted for Type II diabetes mellitus under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, as well as sleep disturbances. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee conditions, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

Effective dates of December 11, 2015, but no earlier, have been granted for the awards of service connection for lumbar spine and right hip disabilities.,Initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for both conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for nonspecific reaction to tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis claimed as an unspecified respiratory disability was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for left leg radiculopathy and a left hip disability claimed as dislocation of the pelvic bone were denied because there is no evidence of such conditions during service or at any time since.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hip conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus, right hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn all appeals, including those for service connection and readjudication of various disabilities. As a result, the Board is dismissing these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and prostate cancer have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,For the lumbar spine and right hip disabilities, the Board determined there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and sleep apnea has been withdrawn.,Service connection for PTSD, right hip disability, left hip disability, low back disability, vertigo, and tinnitus is granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension is also granted under the PACT Act.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, right hip condition, and sleep apnea as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, and hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's claim for stomach disability was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left ankle arthritis, right knee disability, and right hip disability as they are duplicates of other pending appeals. The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrophy of right lower extremity with weakness is granted due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition as secondary to his service-connected left knee instability, status post meniscectomy, should be remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected knee and/or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for obesity, enlarged prostate (claimed bladder voiding dysfunction and incontinence), erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hip disability are remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability are being remanded for further review.,An earlier effective date is denied for the surgical scar resulting from the total hip replacement surgery on January 13, 2012. The earliest possible date for this disability is January 13, 2012.,The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 10 percent and an increased rating is not warranted based on current evidence of record.,A compensable rating (greater than 0%) for the surgical scar resulting from right hip replacement surgery is denied. The earliest possible date for this disability is January 13, 2012.,The Veteran's right hip disability requires a remand to consider post-operative criteria under DC 5054 and the assignment of a convalescent rating following hospital discharge.