Hip decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities did not arise during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the current condition and service. The left hip disability was also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing proper VCAA notification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, hip disability, and back disability. The decision found that preexisting pes planus was not aggravated during active military service, there is no evidence of a current bilateral knee or hip disability related to active military service, and there is no evidence of spinal arthritis within one year following discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability and residuals of a stress fracture of the right second metatarsal are found to be related to service. The claim for secondary service connection for psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records from the Fayetteville VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right elbow and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that referral to the VA Compensation and Pension Service is warranted for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right hand disability (claimed as residuals of a fracture of the third finger), right hip disability, bone disorder (claimed as residuals of fractured ribs), and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including on a secondary basis. The appeal is currently remanded to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right leg disability incurred in service and denies his claim for increased rating of his right knee disability. The current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects the functional loss due to pain, weakened movement, excess fatigability, or incoordination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's hip disability is being considered in relation to his service-connected knee and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing, and no final outcome is determined at this stage.

The Board finds that the appellant's current bilateral hip disability, including trochanteric bursitis with degenerative changes, is as likely as not causally related to his service-connected bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disabilities. Service connection for a bilateral hip disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have left shoulder, right shoulder, or left leg/hip disabilities. The headaches and hypertension are also not service-connected as they did not start during active duty or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including left ear disability, residuals of jaw infection, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right hip disability, and left elbow disability, were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's hand tremors are found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports granting service connection for hand tremors.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip disability and sciatic neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated due to active service, nor were they incurred or aggravated due to other service connected disabilities. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the current conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and lung disability. The denial is based on a lack of medical evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and back disorders. The Veteran's claims were denied as the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.