Hip decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability is currently rated as mild degenerative joint disease and decreased range of motion, but further development is needed to determine if it is related to his service-connected right foot and ankle disabilities. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities are not related to service.,Hypertension is also not found to be related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, elbow, and hip disabilities. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip disability, diverticulitis, or an acquired psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to his active duty service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including as secondary to other service-connected disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability is not related to her service, including a period of INACDUTRA in February 2008 where she slipped on ice and sustained a head injury. The evidence does not support finding that the hip condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during the appeal period. The claim for an increased evaluation for lumbar spine disability was also denied as there is no evidence that the condition has resulted in unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has granted a 40% evaluation for the Veteran's right hip disability based on limitation of flexion and a separate 10% evaluation for limitation of extension. The Board also found that service connection is warranted for a left hip disability, which was etiologically related to his service-connected pilonidal cyst.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip and ankle disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service, nor were they caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disabilities.,VA examinations did not find any evidence of a right hip or right ankle condition during active service. The examiner also noted that medical literature does not support the contention that the Veteran's hip and ankle disabilities are caused by or result from his right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral hip disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral ankle strain, and bilateral knee strain. The ratings for left and right ankle disability have been increased to 20 percent prior to March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and medical evidence, as well as to schedule her for a VA examination. The goal is to determine if the Veteran has residuals of a right knee injury that may be related to her current hip, foot, and ankle conditions.

The Veteran's MFS is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, prostate cancer, and cardiomyopathy are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the December 2012 VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right leg numbness and tingling has been withdrawn by the Veteran during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, diagnosed as left knee, right ankle, left ankle, bilateral hip, back, bilateral shoulder, bilateral elbow, bilateral wrist, and right knee disabilities, was aggravated beyond its natural course during his active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to his period of active military service.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to the service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not establish a link between the current condition and the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to have originated during service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and back disability. However, the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of neck, bilateral hip, or acquired psychiatric disabilities, and there is no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left knee, right knee, left hip, or right hip conditions. The Veteran's complaints were noted during service but did not result in any identifiable pathology on examination or imaging. As such, service connection cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection and range of motion findings. The Veteran's left hip, right ankle, and left tibia/fibula disabilities are at issue.