Hip decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hip, left hip and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened. Service connection is granted for spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder, right ankle sprain and left ankle sprain disabilities remain pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The gastrointestinal disability, diagnosed as dyspepsia and chronic diarrhea, is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected fibromyalgia. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2011, have been granted for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and service connection were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent was upheld for the left ankle disability, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other manifestations warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has not yet issued a statement of the case on the issues of entitlement to earlier effective dates for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the basis of exposure to ionizing radiation during active service was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the issues related to headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and peripheral nerve conditions. The increased rating claims for left knee and cervical spine disabilities are also part of this appeal.

The Board denied service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Anemia, Bilateral Knee Disability, and Right Hip Disability. The Veteran did not have these conditions during her active duty or within the presumptive period.,There is no evidence of chronicity in service, and there are no objective indications of current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various spine and hip conditions, as well as headaches, have been granted. The Veteran now has service connection for a cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, headaches, left hip disabilities, right hip disabilities, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The right shoulder disability was granted on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip disability did not have its onset in service or within one year of service discharge, was not shown to be etiologically related to service, and is neither due to nor aggravated by his service-connected postoperative fracture of the left patella.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the denial of service connection for bilateral hip, wrist, elbow, and knee disabilities at a hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that it first manifested during active service. The Veteran's other claims of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions including knee and hip arthritis, neck pain, and shoulder issues. The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to accurately assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability has been denied as there is no evidence of the claimed condition during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 1, 2009 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of an inner head injury with a 10 percent rating effective August 21, 2001. The Veteran's claim is also granted for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's left hip disability has been characterized by limitation of motion and some pain, but no ankylosis or malunion of the femur with marked hip disability. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran is also provided with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hip disabilities.