Hip decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left hip disability that is attributable to his active military service or caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim of service connection for a left hip disability.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and his low back disability and right hip condition are both service-connected. The Board has granted these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip disability is etiologically related to his service-connected prostate cancer and has been granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip disability did not have its onset in service or preexist service and was not permanently worsened therein. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected right knee and right hip disabilities were denied. The Board found that the medical evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims were granted, with increased disability ratings assigned. Service connection was established for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disc disease, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The RO also denied his requests for higher ratings for his service-connected left hip and left knee disabilities, as well as adjustment disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and other physical complaints are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of wounds to head, legs, and back. The right hip disability claim is pending as well.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Casa Grande Medical Center in Casa Grande, Arizona, on December 15, 2004, due to lack of evidence showing a VA facility was not feasibly available and because he had not been an active participant in the VA healthcare system during the preceding 24 months.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, right hip disability, and respiratory disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and hip disabilities as secondary to the veteran's service-connected Achilles tendinitis of the left ankle and plantar fasciitis of the left foot. The VA found that there was no evidence linking these disabilities directly to her service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's hip, leg, and lumbar spine disabilities to his active service or a service-connected condition. The VA examiners concluded that there was no etiological relationship between these conditions and his bilateral pes cavus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, left hip condition, lumbosacral spine disability, and depression on the basis that new and material evidence was not submitted sufficient to reopen these claims. The veteran's psychiatric disorders were found to have begun many years after service and were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a present bilateral knee or hip disability related to service, and these disabilities are not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current lumbar, cervical, thoracic spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, and bilateral leg disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left hip disability and finds that the appellant's claimed left hip disability is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected disease or injury. As such, the claim for service connection for left hip disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied across multiple issues, including neck disability, hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The RO previously denied these claims as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various lower body conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran does not have a current disability of the wrists, hips, right ankle, shoulders, left knee, or elbows that is related to his military service. He has tinnitus but there is no competent medical evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostate and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to his military service, including any herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection are denied.