Hip decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his separation examination report and determine if any of the claimed disabilities were related to his active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the January 2010 rating decision. The right hip disability claim was recharacterized and remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right hip disabilities are not service-connected due to their preexistence in service and lack of aggravation during service. The VA examiner found no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability or carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right elbow and hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right hip disability was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities are not attributable to service or service-connected conditions. The claims were denied as secondary service connection was not established.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic hip disorder in service or within one year following the Veteran's separation from service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hip conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's National Guard service records and VA/Non-VA medical records. The claims for bilateral foot, right hip, and low back disabilities require remand for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, satisfied with the recent decision that increased the rating for PTSD to 70 percent, effective April 18, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, and the Board finds that his claimed disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran has also had his claims withdrawn for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep disorder, rib injury, and kidney injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and left shoulder condition, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected mechanical lower back pain.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current left hip disability was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate efforts in obtaining the Veteran's military medical records.