Hip decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized arthritis, a right hip disability, and cervical and thoracic spine disabilities. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for a left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to procedural deficiencies in the rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including dermatitis, PTSD, hip and knee disabilities, muscle cramps, shoulder impingement, upper back condition, cervical spine syndrome (neck condition), low back disability, and ankle disability. The appeals are all now denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar of the left leg is granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that his current right hip disability is not related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and effective date for left knee disability was granted. Effective January 15, 2003, the Veteran is rated at 10% for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's left hip disability is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a missing VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, right knee disability, and migraine headaches are denied. The claim for PTSD is granted with a 30% evaluation effective from March 14, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and hip disability, claimed as back pain, and for a skin disorder, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, were denied. The denial is based on the lack of medical evidence establishing a relationship between any current conditions and service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability and found that the overpayment of VA benefits due to change in marital status was validly created. The Veteran's left hip condition is not shown to have been incurred during his active duty, and there is no evidence linking it to any period of reserve service or to military service generally.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left hip disability, and phlebitis of the right leg were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service and a left ankle disability was incurred in service. The other conditions were not established as being related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his lumbar spine and bilateral hip/knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for urinary frequency.

The Veteran's left hip disability is service-connected, and he was granted a higher rating for his right foot disability. The effective dates for the service connection of depressive disorder, OSA, and fibromyalgia are established as December 19, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability caused or aggravated his current left knee and left hip disabilities.