Hip decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his complete service personnel records and conduct additional examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for DM, a right hand disability, left hip disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, and PTSD will be addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee pain and limitation of motion are presumed to have been incurred during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The low back and right hip disabilities are not currently addressed as they require further examination.

The Veteran's appeals of increased ratings for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, as well as her claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability, have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at the October 2013 Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower extremity neuropathy and right hip disability are not related to his service-connected condition.,The evidence did not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI and headaches, were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current nerve damage and pain to the penis and right testicle, or his right hip disability, to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the right thigh. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete record.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability (PFPS) and denied service connection for right hip disability. The Veteran's left knee and left hip disabilities are associated with her right knee and right hip disabilities, respectively.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For his bilateral hip disability, the evidence of record fails to establish its onset in service or any direct relationship with service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any earlier effective date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities are related to his active service, including parachute jumps during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, finding that a VA opinion is needed to address whether these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected pes cavus.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not ready for appellate disposition and requires additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's inability to travel to a VA medical center. The claims of service connection for left wrist disability and bilateral hip condition are being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion to determine the relationship between his service and any diagnosed disabilities, including those related to an incident in service. The Veteran will be provided another VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow (ulnar nerve) disability, hypertension, and a liver disorder to include hepatitis. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability was granted with an effective date of January 7, 2009. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as early as May 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip, right hip, and low back disabilities as well as entitlement to increases in the staged ratings assigned for a postoperative right ankle disability. The effective dates for these awards are being handled separately.