Hip decisions — 2009

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of Perthes disease of the left hip, finding that his current condition is related to active service and not due to pre-existing conditions or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he does not have a current chronic left hip disability associated with his active military duty, and the service connection for a left hip disability is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability is related to a right hip injury in service, and thus grants service connection for post total hip replacement, right hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural errors in VCAA notice and the propriety of reducing his VA benefits due to incarceration. The Board will provide proper VCAA notice, issue a SOC for the reduction issue, and readjudicate the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a low back condition, a left hip condition, a right hip condition, and a right knee condition, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions and insufficient evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability and there is no evidence linking any such disability to service or his service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred during service, and he has a current left hip disability as a result of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. However, there is no evidence of arthritis of multiple joints or any other currently diagnosed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The right hip disability claim was not addressed as it does not appear to be a direct result of service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current hip disability, and the Veteran's claimed knee disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be incurred during active duty.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for cervical spine arthritis, effective from the date of the July 2007 rating decision. The right hip disability and lumbar spine disability claims are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination for his feet and nasal septum, scheduling the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing, and completing any other necessary development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder, right hip, and left wrist disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed foot disabilities and whether there is any relationship between piriformis syndrome and service-connected disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing Vazquez-Flores notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any right hip disability and heat syncope.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg and left hip disabilities were denied as there is no competent medical evidence relating these conditions to active service.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for service connection and increased rating.