Hip decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and back disability are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are at least as likely as not proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 16, 2004 and in excess of 70 percent from August 22, 2006 through September 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed bilateral hip disability, with specific focus on whether it is related to service or due to or the result of the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The examiner must also address whether the bilateral hip disability was aggravated by the service- bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his psychiatric disorder, spine, right foot, and right hip disabilities, as well as the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right hip disability is related to service and granted. Other claims for service connection, TDIU, and increased ratings are addressed.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for a left hip disability and a temporary total rating due to convalescence following left hip surgery. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, a back disability, and a right hip disability. The evidence did not support that these conditions were related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is not at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes cavus, and thus does not warrant service connection on a secondary basis. The claim for direct service connection has also been denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition manifested within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and respiratory disability due to in-service asbestos and chemical exposures (CB and CTC) have been denied. The Board notes that the Veteran served as a firefighter in the Aircraft crash and rescue division.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent prior to November 17, 2010 and 100 percent thereafter, is granted. The effective date of the increased rating remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability of the knees, legs, or hips in service and denied claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability, right hip and left hip disabilities, residuals of fracture of right femur with scar, muscle herniation and femur shortening, and moderate knee disability, or painful motion of the right shoulder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's tinnitus claim and his service-connected right foot, left hip, and right hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left knee and left hip conditions, finding that there is at least a state of equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's recurrent upper respiratory signs and symptoms, including sinusitis, are due to an undiagnosed illness manifested during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the evidence received since the July 2014 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as service connection for a neurological disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing. The issues include service connection claims for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her degenerative disc disease at L4 to S1, left shoulder disability, and left hip disability were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.