Hip Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is not service-connected due to lack of a causal relationship with his military service, including exposure to toxic substances. The left shoulder disability claim requires further development as the remand directive was not fully addressed in the most recent VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depressive disorder, TBI, and related disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, finding that an adequate medical opinion is needed to address whether his current hip conditions are related to service or caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left hip disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, obesity, or an altered gait.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a right hip condition are all granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the right hip condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip condition, and mouth condition due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, and VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck, back, hip, knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran's STRs do not reflect injuries sustained in November 1996 during a rappelling exercise.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to additional development being needed, including updating the Veteran's work history and obtaining information from his employers.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as non-compensable from July 18, 2018 to December 20, 2020 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from December 21, 2020. The left hip disability is currently rated as non-compensable from July 18, 2018 to December 20, 2020 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from December 21, 2020.,The Veteran's right hip disability was rated at 10 percent from February 5, 2021. The left hip disability is currently rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for recurrent hip and knee disabilities, as well as a recurrent lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential errors in the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as a left leg disability), left knee disability, and disabilities manifested by left heel pain and numbness of the left foot toe due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left hip disability. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence supporting an earlier effective date, and the current assigned ratings are considered appropriate based on the medical findings.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and her claimed low back, bilateral hip, right knee, and seizure disorders.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right hip condition are denied due to dishonorable discharge.,The Veteran's claims for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received.,Service connection is granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, with the presumption that it was incurred during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis. The Veteran did not have a current hip disability at the time of the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip disabilities and left lower extremity neuropathy due to incomplete development. The specific reasons for the remand include needing an addendum opinion explaining the damage to the right hip joint, as well as examining the current severity of the hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability rating was reduced from 40% to 10%, effective January 1, 2019. The reduction is now restored as the evidence does not show improvement in his condition.