Hip decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed back and left hip disabilities. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds to the left foot and ankle. The right hip disability is also found to be related to the service-connected condition.

The veteran's service-connected hip and lumbosacral spine disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they alone meet the criteria for a TDIU. An updated VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to inadequate evidence regarding the extent of his service-connected disabilities' impact on daily self-care functions.

The veteran's bilateral hip disability is found to be causally related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for PTSD, and an initial evaluation greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The veteran was also denied a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, as well as his increased ratings for pes planus and low back sprain. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination. The veteran's service connection claims are also being reviewed.

The Board found no evidence of a right hip condition during service or for many years thereafter, and the veteran's current right hip condition is not linked to any in-service event. The Board also determined that there is no evidence of asthma or tumors related to service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions (right hip condition, asthma, and tumors) as they were not shown during service or within one year after discharge, and the veteran's current conditions are not linked to any in-service event.

The veteran seeks service connection for various hip, knee, shoulder, and back disabilities. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate his claims.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral flat feet, knee disability, hip disability and low back disability, were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disorders, prostate cancer, valvular heart disease, and COPD. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to his hips during military service or within one year post-service. The Board also found that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and thus could not grant presumptive service connection for prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and hip disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The right hip disability claim was decided in favor of the veteran as it is considered a direct result of his service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg and hip condition, finding that it is not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and a bilateral hip disability, finding no evidence of such conditions being related to military service or any other compensable basis. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the disabilities were caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board denied service connection for obesity and the veteran's right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his obesity. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right hip disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. The right hip disability is found to be related to military service, while the tinnitus is also found to be related to military service.