Hip decisions — 2024

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional adjudication due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain necessary medical opinions as requested in prior remands and thus, another remand is needed to address the service connection claims for various orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected due to the in-service injury and chronic symptoms. The left hip disability is denied as not related to the service-connected knee disabilities.,A separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee is granted, while a higher rating for torn meniscus status-post surgery with non-compensable scar remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete records from Malcom Grow Medical Center at Joint Base Andrews.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in their respective opinions. Additional examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left hip disability is pending.

The Board denied service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including low back, cervical spine, left shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle conditions. The Veteran's hypertension was also not found to be service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disorder, left ankle condition, left knee disability, and left hip disability as there was no evidence of a nexus to service or any other related conditions. The skin and prostate disabilities were also not granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease and that any current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection of right shoulder, back, right hip, right wrist, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's pain disorders are being evaluated in light of recent legal developments regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has found that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) has not substantially complied with the remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been granted a 20 percent rating, but the service connection for his right hip bone spur remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to his withdrawal of these appeals prior to a decision being made. The Veteran was granted a 100% rating for PTSD from November 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hand and wrist condition, diverticulosis, bilateral hearing loss, lower back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hip condition. The remand requests additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, but remanded the issues of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and left hip disability due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of abduction, but the issues regarding extension and flexion remain unresolved. The Board has remanded these claims to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional procedural and evidentiary development, including verifying the exact dates of the appellant's Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) periods in his Army National Guard service. The AOJ is also instructed to adjudicate the claims on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and active duty service or a service-connected disability. The weight of the persuasive evidence did not support a finding of causation.