Hip decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee replacements, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The back disability was also found to be incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and procedural actions, including a statement of the case on service connection for hypertension and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma during service, is granted. The right hip and ankle disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal for these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right hip disability and arthritis of multiple joints due to concerns regarding the opinions provided by the VA examiner in February 2012. The Veteran is to be afforded new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities, including X-rays of all relevant joints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are not related to her service-connected right tibia and fibula disability, and therefore, she is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran's claims on appeal will be readjudicated after the additional development is completed.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not shown to be related to her service-connected left ankle disability. The medical opinions provided weighed against the claims for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, left knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge. The current evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right hip or right ankle disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral pes planus, and hammertoes and a bunion of the right foot. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disability and finds no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder and left hip disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by his military service. The most probative evidence did not link these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability and granted it. The decision also addressed his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new evidence supports reopening of this claim as well.

The Veteran's lumbar spine/sacroiliac disability and bilateral hip disability are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to the former. The initial ratings for DM and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hip disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left hip condition is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tibia stress fractures and denied service connection for a right hip disability. The Veteran's bilateral tibia stress fractures are found to have onset during his active service, while the right hip condition is not currently diagnosed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, psychiatric, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.