Hip decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, while her left hip disability does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 31, 2010. He also has a separate rating of 10 percent for right lumbar radiculopathy.,Regarding the right hip disability, the Board finds that further examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if it is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a secondary service connection examination. The examiner will determine if these disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip disability is not related to service and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for a temporary total rating based on his right hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hip disability, and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and right hip disability have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of these issues.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes. The Board grants service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including for service connection for hip, leg, and lumbar spine disabilities as well as a psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The decision is final as it was not appealed within one year.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and an upper gastrointestinal system disorder (GERD) as these conditions were first diagnosed during active duty. The lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are not considered to have been incurred in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of any of the claimed conditions, and there is no evidence linking these disabilities to service. The VA examinations and VHA specialist opinions do not support a finding that any of the disabilities are related to the 1969 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as a low back disability, have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support the presence of current hip or low back disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service.,There is no evidence of a current right ankle disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that new evidence did not reopen the Veteran's claim for right foot disability. Service connection for left and right hip disabilities secondary to service-connected pes planus was also denied. However, the Veteran received an initial compensable rating (10%) for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right, left, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service. The claims for secondary service connection were also denied as there was no established primary service-connected disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be causally linked to his periods of active duty service and ACDUTRA, resulting in the grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, secondary to his left arm disability, was denied as he does not have a diagnosable hip disability. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, which he claims are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board finds the April 2009 VA examination inadequate and remands the case for a new examination.