Hip decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral hip disability, both of which are considered direct service connection. The RO will proceed with a determination on the merits of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and new and material evidence submissions, as well as service connection for various conditions. The left hip condition was rated at 10 percent, hearing loss was not compensable, hypertension was also not compensable, and there were no findings regarding hematuria or Achilles tendon spurs.

The veteran's asthma, low back disorder, vaginitis and vaginal infections, and residuals of a C-section are all found to be service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence supporting a relationship between the two conditions.

The Board found that the appellant's postoperative residuals of a herniated disc at L5-S1 were not incurred or aggravated in active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's asthma was aggravated by service and grants service connection for it. However, there is no current evidence of a left hip disability, so service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and right hip conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for secondary service connection for right hip disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disorder and a herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for which service connection may be granted, including for the claimed bilateral hip condition, knee condition, ankle condition, low back condition, and hearing loss. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that it was incurred during active duty due to noise exposure.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% temporary total disability evaluation was denied as it did not become factually ascertainable that he was entitled to such prior to April 6, 1999 when he underwent surgery.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain employment due to his severe arthritis.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right hip disability that he believes developed as a result of his service-connected right knee disability. The RO has denied the claim, but the Board finds it should be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a right hip disability has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection were dismissed as no adequate substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The veteran's claim of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not serve during a period of war. The claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses related to her right hip disability is denied because the required third condition (feasibility of VA treatment) was not met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability, back disability, and residuals of a head injury.