Hip decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is related to her military service, and grants service connection for a myofascial strain of the low back. The preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for hip, ankle, or lump on buttocks disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee instability, and right knee painful motion was denied. The RO also did not assign a compensable rating for right knee limitation of motion prior to May 25, 2011, or grant a greater than 10 percent rating from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and degenerative osteoarthritis are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The condition was found to be less likely than not attributable to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip and right elbow disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's left hip disability is manifested by limitation of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims were denied, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for bilateral calluses, plantar warts, and metatarsalgia. The reduction from 30 to 10 percent was upheld.

The Board has ordered additional development for service treatment records related to the Veteran's alleged injury in December 1943 at Espiritu Santo. The case is being remanded for further adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to her service-connected right knee disability, including instability due to a previous injury. The VA examiners' opinions were considered more probative than those of the witness who testified on behalf of the Veteran.

The Veteran is not entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses for visits to a VA medical facility in November 2008, May 2009, June 2009, and July 2009 due to failing to file her request within 30 days of completing the assessments or treatments.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed disabilities, including vertigo, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right hip disability, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The Veteran's left hip disorder claim will require further examination to determine if the Veteran indeed suffers from such a disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including bowel disability, bladder disability, nerve damage, spinal cord damage with residual low back disability, hip disability, knee disability, erectile dysfunction, immunity disorder, and spleen disability. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, as he is qualified for sedentary employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for a right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and a need for clarification of medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of her claim for a left hip disability. The headaches, stress fractures or shin splints with probable neuropathy, back lipomas, and psychiatric disabilities (depression and PTSD) are all found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his service as a firefighter and thus grants service connection for this condition.