Hip decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of her claims for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for right hip disability, and psychiatric disability were denied. The denial of the psychiatric disability claim is due to a lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left hip, right hip, and pelvis disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his period of active service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral eye disability related to active service, and his sleep apnea is not related to active service. Hypertension was presumed due to Agent Orange exposure but is not considered secondary to any service-connected condition. The low back/hip disability and skin cancer are also not related to active service or secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for a right hip disability and denies it. The Veteran's current right hip disability is not shown to be related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and bilateral hip conditions are granted, with the exception of her right hip condition which is pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral knee disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left hip disability and GERD has been granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted with an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right hip disability. The Veteran seeks service connection for his current right hip disability on both direct and secondary bases.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, hemorrhoids, hepatitis C, and hypertension, cannot be granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left hip disability, post-total left hip replacement with chronic left iliopsoas tendonitis and left leg length discrepancy, has resulted in markedly severe residual pain. The VA determined that a 70 percent rating is appropriate over the entire appeals period.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and hip disorders on a secondary causation basis, as they are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for service connection of the bilateral foot disorder is remanded to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a current right leg disability. The rating for limitation of extension and flexion of the right knee was increased.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability and anxiety disorder are not service-connected, and therefore denied both claims. The Veteran's current anxiety disorder is evaluated at a 50% rating.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was proper, and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hip disability, pulmonary disability, left elbow disability, and heart disability (secondary to DDD of the lumbar spine) have been granted. The Veteran's combined rating remains at 40%.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical examination and records, including those from her obstetrician. The goal is to determine the extent of her service-connected right hip disability and whether she should be considered for an extraschedular rating due to her pregnancy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip and neck disabilities, but granted a 10 percent rating for tinnitus and a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability. The initial compensable ratings were assigned for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hip or bilateral leg disability related to service, and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms are due to his nonservice-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability or sleep disorder related to his military service and thus, denied both claims for service connection.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hip disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The left ankle issue was remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee, hip, and back disorders are not related to her service-connected left foot disability. The claims for service connection were denied.