Hip decisions — 2015

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for multiple joint disabilities. The Board has ordered additional examinations to evaluate the severity of her knees and determine if the other claimed conditions are related to her service-connected knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability, seeking a higher rating for PTSD and MDD, and reopening his claim of service connection for a right hip disability. The AOJ is instructed to secure SSA records, obtain private treatment records from identified providers, arrange for an orthopedic opinion, and schedule a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to conflicting medical evidence regarding his left hip and left knee conditions, as well as missing VA examination reports. The Veteran will be afforded a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his complaints.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected right hip disability was granted, with a current 10 percent rating. The issues of compensable ratings for limited adduction and flexion were also addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and is not etiologically related to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, memory loss, and shortness of breath as they were not found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar strain, diabetes mellitus type II, right hip condition, and scars from a shell fragment wound of the right lower extremity with retained foreign body, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and hip disabilities due to incomplete development of the record, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and back conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is not related to her service-connected right hip disability, or otherwise to active duty service.,The Veteran's sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is proximately due to, or the result of, her service-connected right hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, back disability, right hip disability, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is rated at 50 percent since December 10, 2010. The Board has also granted service connection for his back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for right hip disability, low back disability, and arthritis of multiple joints due to lack of new and material evidence. The medical records submitted did not provide a nexus opinion indicating that the disabilities were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. He is now entitled to a combined rating of 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and low back disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The examiner opined that these conditions are less likely related to his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and denied his claim for direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's umbilical hernia was not aggravated by service, and denied service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left ankle, and left hip disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is also awarded a 30 percent rating for his bilateral pes planus.