Hip decisions — 2015

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification of the nature and etiology of any current right hip disability, including whether it is related to service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board has found that there are missing components necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's appeals, including a Statement of the Case (SOC) and VA Form 9. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is caused by favoring her left leg due to her service-connected right hip disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her right hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's right knee strain has not resulted in symptoms more nearly approximating compensable limitation of flexion or extension, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, other impairment, ankylosis, or dislocated semilunar cartilage. There is no arthritis in the right knee.

The Veteran's right hip disability is not shown, and the Board finds no basis for service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted as it is reasonably shown to be related to noise trauma in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, back disability, and bilateral hip disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 27, 2001, for the grant of service connection for anxiety with PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip condition, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by altered body mechanics related to her service-connected residuals of a stress fracture of the left inferior pubis ramus.

The Board denied an increased rating higher than 10 percent for deep laceration of the left groin and thigh, finding that separate ratings were not warranted for scarring, penile deformity, or a left hip disability. The decision is considered final.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and associated radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's right knee condition aggravated his low back disability. The claim for bilateral hip disability as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities is denied due to lack of evidence of a current chronic hip disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left eye glaucoma and remanded his claims for bilateral hip disability and right eye glaucoma due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and right hip disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their clinical onset in service, were not otherwise related to service or a service connected disability, and are less likely caused by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for right and left ankle disabilities, low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headaches, and right hip disability. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is REMANDED.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via videoconference. The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations are pending.