Hip decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hip and low back disabilities did not have onset in service or were not caused by his active military service. The right shoulder, headaches, and anxiety conditions are also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and left hip disabilities but denied them on the merits. The Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, chronic bronchitis, right hip disability, and left hip disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, and there was no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a new VA examination for his service-connected left knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the Cleveland, Ohio RO due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, chronic labyrinthitis, pansinusitis, headache disability, low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's claims are pending with the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and bilateral leg disorder, but denied the underlying de novo issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with previous remand orders, and further development is required to determine if the Veteran's right hip and bilateral foot disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's left hip disability was not incurred in service, but he is granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his additional left hip disability resulting from VA medical treatment administered on April 2, 1996.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is unrelated to her service-connected knee disabilities. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as any diagnosed hip disorder. The case will also be reviewed by the Director, Compensation & Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration of a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current spine and hip disabilities to her service, or any reported fall injury during service. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her military service, and she has a reasonable doubt in favor of her claim for service connection. The Board also finds that there is a reasonable doubt as to whether her cervical spine disability is related to her military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to the lack of current disability. The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for elbow tendonitis are pending.

The Veteran's claims for hip and sacroiliac/pelvic disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to clarify his periods of active duty. The Board will address these issues in a subsequent decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lower extremity and neurological conditions, effectively result in the loss of use of his left lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion that he is precluded from locomotion without the aid of a cane. His claim for specially adapted housing assistance is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, right leg and knee disabilities, and low back disability are not service connected as there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability, and his employability is precluded due to his multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his reopened service connection claim for left ankle and foot disability. The issue of whether he needs a brace to stabilize his hip will also be considered.