Hip decisions — 2013

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and lower back disability, are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the hearing officer's absence and the Veteran requested a new hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical, thoracic spine, bilateral hip, and upper extremity neurological disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's low back, right hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the July 2010 VA examination and etiological opinion are inadequate for the claims of direct and secondary service connection for a right hip disability. The case is REMANDED to provide an appropriate VA examination with opinions on whether any current right hip disability is related to active military service, caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral feet disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic bilateral hip disability, colon cancer, and prostate disability have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during active service or within the first post-service year. The Board finds that the Veteran did not develop these disabilities due to an established event, injury, or disease during active service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including verification of radiation exposure and a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between her conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psoriatic arthritis, bilateral hip disability, and right knee disability were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The disabilities are considered to be due to natural progression of the conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded both service connection claims for a new VA examination due to the inadequacy of the September 2006 VA examination. The Veteran's left hip and left knee disabilities are currently under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and low back disabilities are not related to service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his left hip disability and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip bursitis disabilities. The claim for service connection for a right hip disability was not supported by the evidence provided.

The Veteran's left hip disability and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities have been granted initial evaluations, while his lumbosacral spine condition remains at a non-compensable level. The left hip disability is rated based on limitation of flexion, with a separate evaluation for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability and finds that his claimed right hip disability is not related to service or service-connected disability. As such, service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right ankle disability were granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective from November 8, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, right lower extremity disability (claimed as pain and numbness), left hip disability, right hip disability, right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and left hand disability, were all granted. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.