Hip decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities as well as chronic headaches due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right hip conditions are related to his military service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities, as well as determine if he has left ear hearing loss related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his back and left hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pyelonephritis or right hip disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right lower extremity injury and bilateral hip disability, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for scars of the left lower extremity. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim for residuals of a right leg injury.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, right knee instability as a residual of removal of an osteochondroma of the right distal medial femur, and right hip disability as a residual of removal of an osteochondroma of the right distal medial femur. The rating for major depression remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disability is not related to an injury during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if the appellant's old avulsion injury of the Sartorius muscle is related to his service. The appellant must provide any additional medical records from December 1970 to August 1987.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right femur fracture, knee, and hip disabilities have been rated based on their combined effect. The rating of 10 percent has been maintained for the postoperative residuals of a right femur fracture with shortening of the right extremity since February 2, 2004. Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been assigned for the right knee and hip disabilities effective February 2, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip, ankle, and knee disabilities as secondary to the service-connected low back strain. The appellant's complaints of pain were not supported by objective medical findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back, bilateral knee, and right shoulder disabilities are related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a hip disability during service or since then.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, pelvic disability, and bronchitis. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a chronic condition during service or related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back or bilateral hip disability that is causally related to service or her service-connected bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The VA examiners concluded that her current low back and bilateral hip pain are more likely due to normal aging rather than her service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination and records from the Livermore VA Medical Center.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claims for back disability, bilateral hip disability, and residuals of head injury will be reviewed again with a focus on establishing service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are considered to be related to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and a right hip condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.