Hip decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral hip and lumbar spine disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of hyperlipidemia, lung disability, cyst on the back, left hip disability, and lumbar spine disability. The claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 30 percent, and his TBI earlier than October 23, 2008. The claims for service connection of the right hand, ankle, leg disorders, and TDIU based on TBI prior to October 2008 are all granted.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, with a single disability rated 40 percent. The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the nature and etiology of any left hip disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip arthroplasty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right hip disability, left hip disability, fungus of the left foot, or bladder disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's hip disability and determine if a separate evaluation for the right ankle is warranted. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability. The claim for a bilateral foot disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for a VA eye examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his left hip disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disabilities, and for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if he has current hip or shoulder disabilities that are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.,Regarding the left hip condition, as there was no in-service injury or disease noted, and no competent medical evidence linking a current disability to service, the claim was also denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip, low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disabilities. The examiner is to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by his service-connected ilio inguinal nerve entrapment syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection.