Hip decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left hip condition or lower back disability, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection in these areas are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current right hip disability and denied service connection for this condition. The veteran's left trapezius tear was granted an initial non-compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have underlying disease or disability of the right lower extremity, other than disability of the right knee. The veteran's scars were rated as superficial and tender but did not affect an area exceeding 6 square inches or cumulatively exceeding 12 square inches.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right hip condition and right knee condition, as well as his claim for service connection for right ankle sprains, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current chronic low back, hip, or sexual dysfunction disability related to service. The veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities were evaluated and denied, with no specific effective dates provided.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc disease and right hip disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the veteran's request to upgrade his discharge characterization and other procedural issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, a right hip disability, and PTSD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain with paraspinous muscle spasms, right hip pain (claimed as a right hip disability), and left hip pain (claimed as a left hip disability).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hip conditions are secondary to his service-connected spine disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his bilateral hip disability, left ulnar distribution sensory loss with osteoarthritic changes, fractured left ulna with nonunion of the styloid process, and fractured left radius with osteoarthritic changes. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the veteran's left hip disability, but found that service connection for Barrett's disease due to full body exposure to mustard agents was not granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.