Hip decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral leg, hip, and bilateral foot disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are more likely due to post-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including hepatitis C, abdominal disability, head injury/concussion, eye injury/abrasion, black widow spider bite, and asbestos exposure-related disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, heart condition (atypical chest pains), and right hip disability. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed or current condition that could be linked to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left leg, and left hip disabilities. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for updated medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, hip disability, and headaches. The case will be returned after completion of this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancers are service-connected due to in-service sun exposure, and his left hip disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition present or diagnosed during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action due to incomplete records, including Social Security Administration (SSA) reports and a representative's opportunity to submit argument.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain and a right hip condition, finding that there is no evidence of an injury or disease in service and insufficient medical evidence to link current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, fatigue, respiratory issues, right hip disability, cervical spine disability, abnormal weight loss, muscle pain, and cardiac disability, have been denied as secondary to other service-connected conditions. The Board found no evidence of chronicity or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's right hip disability is not service-connected, and her claims for increased rating of the right knee and psychiatric disabilities are denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied right ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have low back strain or a right hip disability that is attributable to his active military service.,The VA examiners found no evidence linking these conditions to his period of service and did not find them related to his service-connected foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection or compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hip or ankle disability related to service-connected knee disability and/or service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hip and ankle disabilities is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hip and lumbar spine disabilities, claimed as secondary to his service-connected postoperative residuals of arthrotomy of the right knee with osteoarthritis. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a left elbow condition. Additional VA examinations are required to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Board finds that service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is warranted on a secondary basis because the evidence is at least in relative equipoise. The Veteran's current right hip disability was not found to be related to his service-connected knee condition.

The Board found no CUE in the May 2003 rating decision denying service connection for chondromalacia changes of the patella, left knee. The Veteran's claim to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was not granted for a right knee condition or a left hip condition. PTSD was found to be incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and left knee disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.