Hip decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal involves reopening of his claims and seeking service connection for various disabilities, including a right eye blindness and basal cell carcinoma. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support finding a clinical disability for which service connection may be granted.,For cervical spine disorders, the Veteran was denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from March 2, 2005 to February 25, 2007 and from February 26, 2007 to June 14, 2009. The Board found that there is no evidence of cervical kyphosis after June 15, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are related to his active service. The skin disability including skin cancer is not presumed or directly linked to his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disease, hand tremors, and joint disabilities are not related to his service or any undiagnosed illness. The hip and ankle disabilities have not been shown to be due to a chronic condition within one year of separation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability caused or aggravated his current diagnosed bilateral knee, hip, and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, knee, and hip disabilities are not related to his military service. The claims for secondary service connection must also fail as there is no service-connected primary disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and increased the Veteran's disability rating to 70 percent effective March 23, 2009. The claim for higher ratings on other issues remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of right leg numbness, bilateral hip disability, or low back disability due to active service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his left knee disability rating was found to be improper. The Veteran did not have new and material evidence submitted to reopen several of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, low back, and bilateral foot disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy and a left hip disability have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his currently diagnosed hemorrhoids.

The Board has found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a right and left hip disability, a back disability, and an increased rating for his left knee strain. However, further development is required before these claims can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, bilateral hip disabilities do not render him unemployable as his current sedentary employment does not appear to be impacted by these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the RO has not provided a higher evaluation for tinnitus and has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, left foot disability, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, left hip disability, and left knee disability were denied as there is no evidence of a current chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease/arthritic changes in his left knee in 1993.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disability, shortened right leg, and right hip disability. However, further development is needed as the Veteran's statements about in-service injuries are not considered sufficient to reopen the claims without additional evidence or examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on instability or limitation of motion.