Hip Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and an insomnia disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as 'flat feet') is denied. The VA examiner found no clear and specific etiology of the condition, attributing it to a prolonged period without complaint after service.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left hip condition are all denied. No evidence supports their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right hip condition are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted.,Service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, prostate condition, erectile dysfunction (ED), and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were not related to active service or any service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of sinusitis in the medical records.

The claims for service connection for right and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted. The claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, claimed as full body weakness (including joint weakness), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the period under consideration.,VA has not found any clinically significant right ankle, knee, hip, or low back disability in the Veteran's records.

The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD effective February 18, 2004. The issues of service connection for a shortened left leg and bilateral foot conditions were remanded. Fees in the amount of $40,134.28 are granted to the Veteran's former attorney.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as due to a personal assault during service.,Right shoulder DJD and dislocation are granted, with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, and right leg disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right hip disability and has determined that it is secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The decision also grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from his 1993 surgery and providing addendum opinions on the etiology of his hip conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left hip disability, left eye condition (other than ocular migraines), restless leg syndrome, residuals of esophageal diverticulum, skin disability to include psoriasis, tinea pedis and tinea corporis, and sleep apnea. The Board has found the VA medical opinions inadequate and remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, back, bilateral hip, and headache disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability and an increased rating for service-connected chronic headaches due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to a left knee disability, is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disorder due to chemical gas exposure and/or a left knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left knee, right hand, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left hip disabilities were not found to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The right ankle disability was denied as the rating did not meet criteria for ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The new opinions must address both direct service connection and secondary service connection theories.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, a right hip disability, and migraines.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, which are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case requires an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether the hip disabilities were caused or aggravated by the lumbar spine disability.