Hip decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right hip disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for hand tremors, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and left ankle disability to include as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's right hand disability was rated as 70 percent disabling under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hip disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of GERD, bilateral knee disability, bilateral arm disability, or right hip disability.,VA examinations were not required for these claims as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumption period.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, avascular necrosis, is proximately due to his service-connected HIV. The Veteran's depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been rated as 50% since July 8, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability that began during active service, was caused or aggravated by a service-connected bilateral ankle disability, or is otherwise related to any incident of service. Therefore, service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The examination will determine if these conditions are related to service or any pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and hip conditions. The right hip disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, headaches, polycystic ovary syndrome, right knee disability, and right hip disability are all granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hip disability. The Board finds that the current nature and etiology of any such disability should be determined through a VA examination, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Appellant withdrew her appeals for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, and entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected low back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service connected as secondary to his right knee and right ankle disabilities. The Board has granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for finding that the VA's duty to provide a medical examination was not triggered. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to address the etiology of his left hip and lower back disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand for another VA examination to assess the existence and etiology of any diagnosed hip disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.