Hip decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are not granted as there is no evidence that the conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notification of a scheduled VA examination for the Veteran's left hip disability. The matter is now returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) failed to substantially comply with prior remand directives and has ordered another examination for the Veteran's cervical neck disability, right knee, and right hip disabilities. The appeal is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip condition, ankylosing spondylitis, sleep apnea, cervicogenic headaches, hemorrhoids, neuropathic pain at post herniorrhaphy site, erectile dysfunction, or brain tumors related to his service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, hypertrophic gastritis, neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, cholelithiasis, hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The Board found that the Veteran's claims were previously adjudicated in a prior appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for prostate cancer and various musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities. The issues of service connection for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and/or PTSD), sleep disability (including apnea), left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability are all remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for left hip disability, and service connection for prostate cancer are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 14, 2013 was denied as she had maintained gainful employment during this period despite her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left hip condition, specifically whether it is a congenital defect or disease that could worsen over time. The examiner should address whether there was a superimposed injury in service and if any pre-existing disability was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral hip disability, including as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities due to further development of the record.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding service connection for right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip disability as secondary to bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded multiple issues, including service connection for a cervical spine disorder and disability ratings for the right hip, PTSD, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to uncertainty regarding whether these conditions are separate from the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy. A new medical opinion is needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's right hip disability has been granted increased initial ratings of 20 percent for limitation of abduction, 10 percent for limitation of extension, and 10 percent for limitation of flexion.,A TDIU claim is also pending as the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability impacts his ability to perform any type of occupational task.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with major depressive disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left hand disability, right elbow disability, and neck/upper back disability.

The Board denied eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a September 2020 Rating Decision, as the effective date was granted after the claims were resolved.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right hip and left hip conditions due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee strain, back condition, and left hip condition are secondary to his service-connected right knee replacement. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension, and his left hip disability is rated at 20 percent for limitation of abduction/adduction. Both ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hip conditions due to new evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected knee disability and his obesity, which may have contributed to his hip disabilities.