Hip decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and their evaluations, with some issues related to hip disability, gout, arthritis, back pain, nerve compression, flat feet, and hypertension. The case is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right hip disability, left shoulder AC joint separation, cervical spine disability, and neurological disability of the right lower extremity. The decision found that there was no current disability in these areas.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability.,VA examinations have consistently found no current right knee or right hip conditions related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic right hip disability and his claim for service connection is denied. The issue of an increased rating for his right ankle disability remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and leg disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen previously denied claims.

The appellant's claims for service connection were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations. As a result, the claims are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a final decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at September 30, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of October 31, 2006. He also received TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the current severity of his service-connected low back disability, as well as whether a bilateral hip disability and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are related to or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The case will also be reviewed to determine if he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and thigh disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, which is claimed to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip disability, tinnitus, and unspecified disability due to radiation exposure is withdrawn. The RO followed proper procedures in discontinuing SMC based on need for aid and attendance and restoring entitlement to specially adapted housing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a hip disability during his July 2012 Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip disability, tinnitus, and unspecified disability due to radiation exposure is withdrawn. The RO followed proper procedures in discontinuing SMC based on need for aid and attendance and restoring entitlement to specially adapted housing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral hip disabilities are etiologically related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA clinical records and inadequate examination opinions. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims to the RO for additional development due to missing service medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee, ankle, and hip disabilities are not related to her service-connected low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin, left hip and low back disabilities did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to military service. The Veteran's sciatica was characterized by subjective complaints but no gross motor abnormalities.