The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for various hip conditions to obtain a more comprehensive VA examination that addresses the severity and functional impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.
The deciding factor: The April 2021 and April 2023 VA examinations were found inadequate as they did not fully evaluate the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities, particularly regarding functional limitations during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.
- Claimed conditions
- right hip strain, limitation of flexion, left hip strain, limitation of flexion, right hip strain, limitation of extension, left hip strain, limitation of extension, right hip strain, thigh impairment, left hip strain, thigh impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25028585
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board grants service connection for a right hip strain, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran based on evidence showing an onset during service and continuous symptoms since then.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder due to another medical condition with depressive features and generalized anxiety disorder, denied a higher rating for his migraine including migraine variants, and denied ratings for other conditions.
- Denied
The appeal of the February 16, 2023, proposal to reduce the disability rating for right hip strain is dismissed. The Board also denied an increased disability rating for right hip strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and right hip strain as secondary to the appellant's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. The claim for a TMJ disorder was denied, along with other claims for increased ratings.
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