Hip decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right hamstring conditions have been denied as there is no diagnosed disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is service-connected as it developed due to an injury sustained during active service. The claim for PTSD was denied because there were no verified noncombat stressors related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral hip disability, which she claims is secondary to her service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of current left ankle, hip, or knee disabilities. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA outpatient clinic records. A new orthopedic examination is also required to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hip disability is related to his period of service.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder or right hip disability related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, and the Board has found that his right knee, left foot, right foot, left hip, and low back disabilities are also related to his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for these additional conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA physician with appropriate expertise to review the claims folder and provide opinions on whether his service-connected left knee disability either proximately caused or aggravated his hip or low back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board denied service connection for cervical nerve damage with decreased strength of both arms, right hip disability, left hip disability, tinea pedis and onychomycosis of both feet, and bilateral CTS disabilities. The Veteran's claims were reopened but the Board found no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip disability and pulmonary tuberculosis do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound. The claim for an effective date prior to January 26, 2000, for the grant of service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left leg and hip disabilities are not related to his service, as there is no credible evidence of a nexus between his in-service injury and his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing on the issues of service connection for left hip and left leg disabilities. The Veteran's current representative is limited in their representation to the two issues listed on the title page of this action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left hip or left leg disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc discogenic disease, a compensable initial rating for scars on buttocks, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from August 15, 2003 to December 20, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities have been denied. Claims for bilateral hearing loss, hip disability, knee disability, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's claimed back, left hip, left ankle, and left knee disabilities. The Board also noted that there was no indication of an accident in service or any residual injuries from such an accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, left hip, lumbosacral spine, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of proper notice for a scheduled hearing. The case will be rescheduled at the Regional Office.

The Veteran's right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities are found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.