Hip decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of current bilateral hip or knee disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hip and low back disabilities that he believes are related to his service-connected left knee disability. The case has been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature of the veteran's injuries and their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by numbness and tingling in the left arm related to service, including as secondary to residuals of ligament disruption of the C1 and C2 vertebrae with subluxation, deformity, and mild degenerative changes. The hip and right knee disabilities are also denied on direct basis due to lack of current evidence of a disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee, back, hip, or shoulder disability that is attributable to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and left hip disabilities on a direct basis or as secondary to his service-connected acrocyanosis with frostbite of the feet. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in service or related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hand disability and bilateral hip disability, both secondary to his other service-connected injuries.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide VCAA-compliant notice on the applications to reopen his service connection claims for a low back strain and bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining medical records and having the veteran examined by VA. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are taken.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, migraines, skin disorder, DJD of the feet, lumbar spine DJD, right hip disability, and bilateral shin splints, were all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a right hip disability, finding no evidence of chronic conditions during service or continuity of symptoms after discharge. The Board also found that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip disability, including bursitis, did not result from service and was unrelated to any incident therein. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and to clarify whether he wishes to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, leg disability, and hip disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his skin condition, hip conditions, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including ankylosing spondylitis and its associated symptoms such as right ankle, bilateral hip, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for further examination by a rheumatologist.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's service periods and obtain relevant medical records. The claims for service connection will be remanded pending this development.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance of another was granted. The appeal regarding CUE with respect to a June 13, 2002 rating decision that denied entitlement to special monthly compensation is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of permanent aggravation of the veteran's thoracic spine condition due to military service. The Board also concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection for his bilateral hip and right elbow conditions.