Hip decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hip and low back disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for his left hip disability will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no right hip disability, but noted marked hip disability in the left hip with pain. For the knee issues, slight instability was noted without moderate instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee, leg, hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities did not have onset in service. The preexisting left knee condition was determined to be less likely than not related to an injury during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for low back, left hip, and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip disability had its onset in service and is related to his active duty, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral leg, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather other issues related to compensation and rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing and will notify the Veteran if further action is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current asbestos-related lung disorder or left hip disability, and that any such disabilities are not related to service-connected conditions. The claim for an asbestos-related lung disorder is denied, and the claim for a left hip disability secondary to service-connected right hip, leg, and foot disabilities is also denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of a bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's current bilateral hip disability is considered to be related to his military service, with opinions from private physicians supporting this conclusion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and grants the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and right hip disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and right hip disabilities are at least as likely as not related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The appeal for a right leg disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating for right hip disability, higher depression rating, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the issues related to service connection for a bilateral hip condition, low back condition, and an increased evaluation for service-connected residuals of right knee injury with tricompartmental osteoarthritis and scar. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The back and bilateral hip disabilities were not shown to be related to any service-connected condition.