Hip decisions — 2016

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection were received by VA less than one year after he separated from active service, and the disabilities originated while he was serving on active duty. The effective date of the awards is set to October 1, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability attributable to active service or any incident of service, including as due to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and low back disabilities. This includes obtaining medical records, arranging for an examination, and considering whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for back, right hip, and psychiatric disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The right hip disability claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, right arm and headache/dizziness disabilities, back and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip, hand, and elbow disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the examination opinions and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a right hip disability during service or since, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted, and an initial disability rating of 70 percent was assigned.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hip, spine, and knee disabilities are not related to his in-service near-fall injury. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,The VA examiners found no specific diagnoses for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, or bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral elbow, shoulder, and hip disabilities are not related to service. The symptoms were first noted many years after service and are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether her right hip condition and back condition have been aggravated by her service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability was reduced from 20% to 10%, effective January 15, 2013. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%. The fibromyalgia and insomnia are separately rated.,A TDIU was granted effective July 20, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left or right hip disability that had onset during service, or was caused by service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee osteoarthritis and/or flat feet.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current left hip disability, and any preexisting condition was not aggravated by service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's hip disabilities have not met the criteria for higher ratings at any point since May 1, 2010. The VA has denied all claims of increased disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (mood disorder) and sleep apnea, both of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to his failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The case will be further developed and readjudicated.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability and found new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right hip and wrist disabilities, increased ratings for lumbosacral spine and right foot disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU benefits are addressed in the REMAND portion.