Hip decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, and right hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a left foot condition, claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries. The Veteran's statements regarding continued symptoms after service were found not credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, neck, right hip, and left shoulder conditions due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is not entitled to presumptive or secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip condition and right hip strain due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain were dismissed as untimely.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to military service, as there was no evidence of auditory damage during service. The left knee disability is also not related to military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability, lumbar disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and cesarean section scar were not related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The right and left hip disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The TDIU appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of upper extremity neuropathy, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for bilateral foot conditions, low back condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are remanded due to the failure to provide a VA examination prior to the December 2024 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions provided. The case is sent back for an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has determined that there were procedural errors in the initial decision and remands these claims for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with left leg radiculopathy, a skin condition other than acne (eczema, atopic dermatitis, corns and calluses), a left hip condition, residuals of vasectomy, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with left leg radiculopathy, a skin condition other than acne (eczema, atopic dermatitis, corns and calluses), a left hip condition, residuals of vasectomy, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound benefits due to her service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that independently rate at 60 percent or more.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disability including GERD with esophagitis, left hip disability, and lower back disability. The claim for right eye condition (claimed as migraines) is being remanded.,The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of bilateral knee and hip conditions due to untimely filing of a VA Form 10182, which was more than one year after the July 26, 2024 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain complete service treatment records, which may provide evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip condition, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.,The evidence supports that these conditions are aggravated by or related to his service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain. The evidence did not support a finding of current hip conditions or any functional impairment affecting earning capacity.

The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a lack of determination on whether it is in his best interest. The Board found that he has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on his psychiatric and physical disorders, but further evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the PCAFC program would be in his best interest.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and fibromyalgia disabilities. The claims for increased ratings of ankle and knee disabilities are remanded.