Hip decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disability and granted a 10% rating for deviated septum. The right hip disability is not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claim for intermittent explosive disorder is granted. The claims for right hip disability and TDIU are also addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip and right hip disabilities have not been found to warrant higher initial ratings. The lumbar spine disability has also not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left hip conditions are not related to her military service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease of the hips, nor is there any chronicity of a hip condition within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left hip, right knee, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip, knee and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or within one year after his military service. The Board also determined that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected hallux valgus of the left foot.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examinations and remands the case for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and service personnel records from the United States Army Reserve.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions, as well as bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, were denied. The Board found no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether new and material evidence supports each individual claim. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right hip, right leg, and right foot disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disability and left foot disability, but service connection is not granted. The claim for a left hip condition remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back, left hip (total replacement), right hip, and right knee conditions, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and further development is required before a final decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD, right knee disability, and right hip disability are not related to his period of active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is found to have caused or aggravated his sciatica, and the Board finds that he has a current disability. The cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities are also found to be related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a left leg disability due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and tendonitis disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service records document some diagnoses related to the right hip and ovaries, but later objective testing was negative for continuing abnormalities. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of any current disabilities due to service.