Hip decisions — 2013

The Veteran's initial ratings for her service-connected back, right hip, and left arm disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.,Specifically, the Veteran's lumbago (back condition) has not demonstrated limitation of motion or neurological impairment that would warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete evidence and the need for further development, including a VA examination. The claims for increase are also pending.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and the left knee disability, as well as the claim for an increased rating for low back strain. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle or bilateral hip disability that is related to his military service. The evidence shows no chronic conditions during service and no nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's right hip disability, post-fracture, is rated at 30 percent due to moderate impairment with symptoms of pain and stiffness. The Board found the evidence approximately evenly balanced as to whether the disability most nearly approximated malunion with marked rather than moderate disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and leg disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board has determined that there is no current left hip disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dermatologic disability of the feet and scalp is service-connected, but his cervical spine, bilateral hip/ pelvic, and bilateral ankle disabilities are not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis was granted service connection, while his low back and left hip disabilities were denied. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis in joints other than the right knee, claimed as cervical spine and left hip disability. The propriety of reducing his VA benefits to 10 percent rate due to incarceration was also denied. The increased rating claims were not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hip disability diagnosed during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left hip, and low back disabilities were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's IBS with abdominal pain has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Board finds that the Veteran's left hip, low back, neck, bilateral foot, and bilateral elbow disabilities may be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current pulmonary disorder related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The appeal regarding bilateral hip disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left inguinal hernia is etiologically related to his period of active service and has granted service connection for this condition. The right hip disability, however, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left hip disabilities have been rated at a 10 percent disability rating for each hip since 1994. The most recent VA Compensation and Pension examination revealed that the Veteran has limited range of motion in both hips, with pain beginning at certain degrees.