Hip decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed left hip, left knee, and low back disability. The Veteran's claims are REMANDED for such development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the appellant's status as a Veteran and the need for additional development of his claims, including verification of service and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities have been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 60 percent rating for his total knee replacement with degenerative joint disease of the right knee. He also meets criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the Veteran to appear for his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing issue and will be scheduled for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Regional Office.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions, as well as a left ankle condition, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the palm of the right hand. The Veteran's current right hip and back disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and shortened right leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability and low back disability due to insufficient consideration of all potential claims raised by the medical evidence of record, as required by Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009) and Brokowski v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 79 (2009).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and hip disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, a neck (cervical spine) disability, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's skin disorder was not related to service, but herpes simplex was found to be related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Hepatitis C and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance. However, he does not meet the criteria for housebound status due to his ability to ambulate with assistive devices.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that it is as likely as not related to active duty service. The other conditions were either not shown within one year of separation or are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and incomplete information.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hip disability, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for his service-connected left hip disability was granted at a 10 percent rating, and the Board found that this level of disability does not warrant an increased evaluation. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypercholesterolemia, right hip disability, left hip disability, neuropsychiatric condition (depression), cervical spine disability, bilateral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the knees, bulging disc and herniation, degenerative changes of the ankles, and thoracic paravertebral myositis were denied. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right hip, and low back disabilities were denied initially. New evidence received since the May 2005 Board decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back, right hip, and right leg disabilities. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.