Hip decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip disability, bilateral eye disability, and PTSD. The claim for low back disability was also denied as there was no evidence to support its relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for a lower right waist/hip disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right hip disability, which he contends is related to an injury during active service. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, as the overall record supports a finding that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran and resolves all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his personnel file and any relevant medical records, including those from Wiesbaden Regional Medical Center. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine if his current disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's right hip disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current right hip disorder. The left hip disability claim, originally denied in February 2006, remains pending and will be addressed on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right knee disability and any diagnosed left knee and right hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip and lumbar spine disabilities did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, leading to a denial of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints was denied as there is no evidence of the condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability (status-post hip replacement), and lumbar spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran asserts that he injured his left hip during service and seeks service connection for the disability. The Board finds the current VA examination inadequate due to a lack of review of the claims folder, and remands the case for another examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and unclear etiology of the Veteran's hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA medical records and providing an opinion on whether his service-connected right hip disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence of a left hip disability during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and outstanding post-service medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, chronic coccydynia, or a hip disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left wrist disability, skin disorder, and back disorder. The hearing loss, tinnitus, and left hip disorders were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and left hip disabilities. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip pain in service is related to current bursitis, warranting service connection for right and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected stress fractures of the right ankle, left tibial plateau, and right hip/pelvis have been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 28, 2006. The Veteran has not met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's service-connected stress fractures of the left hip/pelvis have also been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 28, 2006. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, schizophrenia, and hip disability were denied. Service connection was granted for a vocal and/or speech disability.