Hip Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues including the evaluation for PTSD, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for bilateral knee and hip conditions, and TDIU. The AOJ must review the newly added VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically addressing whether he had undiagnosed plantar fasciitis in service and if his current hip condition is more likely due to use and age rather than abnormal change in gait.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis, as the medications prescribed for these conditions are known to cause such side effects. The right knee disability, left knee disability, and left hip disability have been reopened due to new evidence supporting their existence during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the balance of evidence in favor of a current disability and an in-service injury. The Board finds reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for right leg, left leg, right hip, left hip, and back disabilities are denied as there is no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service or any link to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction (secondary) are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder (including allergies and asthma) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations for his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for vitiligo, allergic rhinitis, low back disability, left hip disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraines with nausea and dizziness are all denied. The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is also denied. The evidence indicates that her allergic rhinitis manifested as allergic rhinitis without polyps, but with greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides.,Service connection claims for a low back disability and left hip disability are remanded. A VA examiner will be asked to determine whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran's preexisting scoliosis was not aggravated beyond its natural progression by her active duty military service.,The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and migraines with nausea and dizziness are also remanded. A VA examiner will be asked to determine whether these conditions were incurred in, or related to, her active duty service.,PACT Act exposure is not applicable to any of the claims.,No rating assigned as all issues are currently denied.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities as well as thyroid disability (hypothyroidism).,The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's hip pain is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for a nontender scar of the right buttocks, fibromyalgia/chronic pain syndrome, left hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities have all been denied.,An earlier effective date prior to August 29, 2014, for service connection of the nontender scar of the right buttocks has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding that there is no credible evidence of a current disability related to service. The Veteran was also denied extraschedular TDIU as his disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic right hip complaints during active duty and insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current right hip condition and his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding the etiology of her low back, right hip, and left hip conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the right hip disability and sinus disability claims, as there are outstanding records to be obtained and a new medical opinion is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's assertions regarding the relationship between his back disability and hip disabilities were inconsistent with the medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his service in the Ohio Air National Guard and determine if any periods of deployment were federal service. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this verification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of her left and right hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions and her service-connected back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for asthma has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability is reopened, but the claims for other conditions are still pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and further examination.