Hip decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for a left hip condition, claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left thigh gunshot wound residuals has been submitted. Further development is required before proceeding to consider the merits of the underlying claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right hip disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions are related to her service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and heart arrhythmia, but granted increased ratings for hemorrhoids and sinusitis. The veteran's left fourth metacarpal fracture resulted in minimal disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case, and the RO is instructed to review this expanded record and determine if service connection for right hip disability and lumbar spine disability should be granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left hip condition was granted, with a 20 percent evaluation effective July 24, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right and left hip disabilities, including arthritis with hip replacement due to cold exposure, based on credible evidence of such exposure during his service in the Korean War.

The Board found that the veteran's right hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not shown to be aggravated by, proximately due to, or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that the veteran's right knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected left knee replacement, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed low back disability with left leg pain, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and unspecified soft tissue complaints of the stomach, leg, and hand due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claims were found not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a hip disability and left shoulder disability, but granted service connection for headaches.,Service-connected allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hip disability is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for respiratory disorders, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. However, new evidence submitted since previous decisions does not warrant reopening of the claims for other conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 6, 2001 for the grant of a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current low back disability and denied service connection for this condition. However, the appellant was granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip.

The Board found that the veteran did not raise a valid claim of clear and unmistakable error in RO decisions dated in December 1989, October 1990, or January 1991. The effective date for TDIU benefits was revised from June 17, 1992 to May 23, 1991 based on the veteran's statement indicating additional disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board determined that the veteran does not have a current right hip disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, it was found that the left hip condition is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability. The veteran's claims for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, as well as specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, are still pending.