Hip Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed lumbar spine disability, as well as to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected left hip disabilities. The issues on appeal include service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to left knee and/or left hip disabilities, initial compensable ratings for left hip disabilities with specific limitations, and confirmation that these matters are addressed appropriately.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disabilities, arthritis, and trochanteric bursitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma or stress-related disorder and PTSD) claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence from VA clinicians. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service or is related to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his in-service fall, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine if the sartorius muscle injury and spurring at the acetabulum are related to his in-service fall.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his service-connected left knee disability or bilateral shin splints, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent since November 21, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date was denied. Service connection has been granted for left ankle, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for his left inguinal hernia repair scar is granted. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hip and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hip condition, sinus condition, congenital hypothyroidism, neck condition, and left knee condition have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for a neck condition and a left knee condition are remanded due to the submission of new evidence material to these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to missing VA treatment records from October 2018 to July 2020. These records are necessary to evaluate the probative value of a clinician's opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder and has remanded his claims regarding right knee, left knee, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,For the period of appeal prior to July 5, 2019, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for impairment of the left thigh is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip, right hip, left foot, right foot, left ankle, and right ankle conditions. The right shoulder condition was also granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and medical opinions. The lower back condition, left hip disability, and radiculopathy of left lower extremity are all being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, cervicothoracic spine pain with cephalgia, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left hip conditions. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bowel incontinence, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain, neck strain, shoulder strain, hip and knee issues. The reasons include lack of documentation during service, reports of chronic symptoms originating in service, and poor training conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand, hip, right hand, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to new evidence received. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hip disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip condition, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to her military service.