Hip decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not permanently increase in severity during his military service and denied all claims for secondary disabilities. The Board concluded that there was no evidence of a current hip, knee, or spine disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the assignment of a total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's death cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and TDIU. Specifically, the VA needs to obtain inpatient hospitalization records from basic training, schedule a new examination to determine the etiology of his left hip disability, clarify the examiner's opinions regarding his ability to work due to PTSD, and request all relevant VA medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left hip disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not show a continuity of symptoms since service and there is no medical opinion linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected death pension benefits and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or for being housebound, as her net worth was deemed too high to allow for a grant of these benefits.,For accrued benefits, the Board found that some portion of the corpus of the appellant's estate may reasonably be consumed in order to provide for her maintenance. However, given her current financial situation, she does not meet the net worth eligibility requirement for pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled video-conference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after rescheduling.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left hip disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected post-operative meniscectomy of the left knee with arthritis, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors did not involve fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and thus could not be verified. The Veteran was denied service connection for PTSD, as there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including degenerative arthritis. The skin disability claim is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues of service connection and reopening claims are not addressed as this case has been returned to the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right great toe and right thumb disabilities are each rated as noncompensable. The claims for service connection for the right calf, ankle, hip, and initial ratings for the right great toe and right thumb were all granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic bilateral hip disability during the appeal period, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for a left ankle sprain and right hip disability were denied as there was no formal or informal claim filed prior to September 27, 2005.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fractured coccyx, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, bladder disability, bowel disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records, providing a VA examination, and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including service personnel records and VA clinical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for examinations to assess the severity of his left knee disability and any aggravation of other disabilities by his service-connected condition.