Hip decisions — 2011

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bronchial asthma, and a left hip disability due to lack of confirmed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities have been granted service connection, but the RO is directed to remand for further development of his left hip disability and left knee disability.

The Board finds that the appellant sustained cold injury during active service and, considering all evidence of record, including his in-service exposure to subfreezing temperatures without adequate protection, as well as post-service medical records showing symptoms consistent with cold injury residuals, there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for residuals of cold injury to the upper and lower extremities. The Board also finds that the appellant's current low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and heart disability are related to his in-service exposure to subfreezing temperatures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been reopened.,However, the evidence does not establish that his current hip disabilities are related to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment information and medical records. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered, as well as the evaluations for right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and right hip disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability was denied, and he is not entitled to service connection for right knee, low back, or bilateral hip disabilities secondary to the left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip disability, including considering secondary service connection and aggravation of existing disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of a bilateral foot condition, back condition, bilateral knee condition, respiratory condition, and bilateral hip condition has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions were not incurred in service or related to his active duty, and denied all claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for her right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain with disc protrusions and nerve impingement, as well as left hip femoral-acetabular impingement. The Veteran's claims are now complete.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's pulmonary embolism and left leg thrombosis are found to be secondary to his service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for bilateral neuropathy of the feet and DJD of the left knee have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left knee and left ankle disabilities, low back disability, lung disorder as a result of asbestos exposure, left hip disability, and residuals of a fracture of the nose. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was not considered as the appeal is not about service connection at all. The Veteran's increased evaluation claims for his left ankle disability were denied prior to June 25, 2002 and granted with a 40% evaluation from that date onwards.

The Board found no evidence of a currently diagnosed bilateral knee, hip, or low back disability that was first manifested during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding any relationship between these disabilities and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, hip, leg, hearing loss, lung disability (other than pulmonary tuberculosis), skin disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for further development of the Veteran's service records and medical records. The issues on appeal are whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a right hip disability and a low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran contends that these disabilities are more severe than the current ratings suggest.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a higher rating for either of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he has been granted service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities. He was denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear but his claim of reopening a previously denied claim for hearing loss in the left ear remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any service-connected right hip/thigh, left ankle, or cervical spine disability.