Hip decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal was timely filed, and the issues of entitlement to service connection for his claimed conditions remain in appellate status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, left hip, and left leg disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip or left knee disability that is attributable to active service, and it was less likely than not caused or made worse by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability, right leg disability (to include arthritis), left leg disability (to include arthritis), hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals warrant a 70 percent rating, and his painful scars of the abdomen and buttocks each warrant a separate 20 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis for gout or bilateral hip disability status post hip replacement, and concluded that these conditions were not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities have been denied. The most recent VA examination found that the Veteran had full range of motion in all affected joints.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hip disability are currently under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to disease or injury in active service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is not found to have caused or aggravated any of his claimed bilateral hip, knee, ankle, or foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in service. The back disability and left hip disability have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and opinions regarding his knee, hip, and low back disabilities. The case will be reviewed again after the additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records from DeWitt Army Community Hospital and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hip disability is causally related to his in-service basketball injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and his symptoms are more likely related to non-service-connected conditions or natural aging processes.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis and bilateral hip disability (trochanteric bursitis) are found to have onset in service, warranting service connection.,However, the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not found to be related to her service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, TBI, a back disability, and a right hip disability cannot be substantiated due to lack of credible evidence supporting an in-service stressor or injury. As such, service connection is denied.

The Board found that the August 2008 rating decision granting service connection for left hip pain was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to a lack of evidence of a current disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing evidence and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine the current nature and etiologies of his claimed left hip, back, left and right knee, left and right hand, right ankle, and coccyx disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hip disability, bilateral heel spurs, or back disability related to service. The claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.