Hip decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to his period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including left side rib injury, bilateral wrist injury, back injury, left hip condition, left lower extremity condition, and hypertension. The decision found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and temporary total rating as the Veteran withdrew her appeal in May 2012. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 28, 2009 for the grant of service connection for status post hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy secondary to service-connected Crohn's disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with a rating of 60 percent effective December 13, 2013. The previous ratings were discontinued and replaced by the new rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability was previously denied and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to spontaneous pneumothorax, has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to include adjudicating the issues on a de novo basis, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing clarifying opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's asthma and his back, bilateral knee, left hip, and left leg disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, foot, and left knee disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right great toe disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right knee disability have been granted.

The Veteran died of a myocardial infarction. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not cause, hasten, or substantially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to November 3, 2005 and increased ratings for his left hip disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nonunion of the femoral neck or formation of a false joint, which are required for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral hip disability, diagnosed as left hip arthralgia, right hip arthropathy, and bilateral hip strain, are found to be related to service. The upper respiratory infection is not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess her pes planus, hip, knee, and back disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left and right hip disabilities that he believes are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The case must be remanded for a VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of these hip disabilities, including whether they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

Since July 1, 2010, the service-connected right hip disability has been rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no evidence of chronic low back disability in service. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the current low back disorder was incurred in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left hip disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, as there is no evidence of record linking this condition to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's left leg pain has been attributed to peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is not related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip or knee disabilities for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection and initial disability rating for hip disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded as additional medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the pending claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.