Hip Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The examination will determine if these conditions are related to service or any pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and hip conditions. The right hip disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, headaches, polycystic ovary syndrome, right knee disability, and right hip disability are all granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hip disability. The Board finds that the current nature and etiology of any such disability should be determined through a VA examination, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Appellant withdrew her appeals for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, and entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected low back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service connected as secondary to his right knee and right ankle disabilities. The Board has granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for finding that the VA's duty to provide a medical examination was not triggered. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to address the etiology of his left hip and lower back disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand for another VA examination to assess the existence and etiology of any diagnosed hip disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD) status post arthroscopy with partial medial meniscectomy, is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The preponderance of evidence does not show that the Veteran had presumptive exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, nor is there probative evidence of exposure to such. As for diabetes mellitus type II, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, which may be held by various entities including his Reserve units and hospitals in Korea and Japan. The case is therefore being remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any found right hip, bilateral knee, and back disability. The Veteran's service connection claims are also being remanded due to his claim of entitlement to a rating in excess 30 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hip disability, and sinusitis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or periods of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and lumbar spine conditions, including as secondary to her service-connected right knee disability. However, it denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for right knee surgical scars.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis, C4-5, status post diskectomy with fusion. Service connection was denied for a left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including seeking clarification on SSA benefits and clarifying the in-service stressor related to PTSD. A VA examination will also be scheduled to address his back and hip claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip condition, and neck condition. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active military service.

The Veteran's hip disability, type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), lung disability, sinus disability, and nasal polyps are all found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted the Veteran's request for withdrawal of appeals for increased ratings for his right hip disability and PTSD with depressive disorder. The claim for an increased rating for scars due to shrapnel and motor vehicle accident was not fully substantiated.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's hip disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected ankle disabilities. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.