Hip decisions — 2009

The Board denied higher initial ratings for right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee, hip, leg, spine, and arthritis of multiple joints disabilities, as well as the reopening of a previously denied claim for a foot disability, for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and a right knee disability, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected left foot scar.

The Board remands the claims for a bilateral knee condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and bilateral hip condition to an examiner for an opinion on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected residuals of coccidioidomycosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during active service or within one year of separation from active service, and no evidence that these conditions are otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral heel spurs, and a bilateral hip disability are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the claims for service connection as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims, and a left foot disability was unrelated to service.

The appeal was denied as there is no competent medical evidence that the Veteran has a current bilateral hip disability related to service, including any in-service injury.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a bilateral hip disability, a right ankle disability, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board grants service connection for a bilateral knee disability, left hip disability, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise regarding the left shoulder disability, but it cannot be granted due to lack of medical nexus.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of hemilaryngectomy are rated at 100 percent, which effectively moots a TDIU claim for that period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased rating, as well as service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's chronic bilateral hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board denied service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not related to his service, and denied the claim for a right hip disability as secondary to a low back disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a back disability resulting from an October 2002 MRI, but denied increased ratings for the right ankle disorder and service connection for bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claims for secondary service connection for a bilateral hip, ankle, and low back disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for residuals of septoplasty, a bilateral hip condition, and residuals of a right leg injury as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions and increased ratings, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities.