Hip decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and a right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bruxism and internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are service-connected as secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for bilateral hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, or a gastrointestinal disorder. Service connection is granted for PF with an initial rating of 30 percent effective May 13, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg below the knee amputation is service connected, and therefore grants this claim. The right hip disability issue remains pending for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) after these are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right hip disability was rated as 10 percent disabling, the left hand and sinus disabilities were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions, and the right knee disability was not found to be proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, right femur/knee condition, left hip condition, back condition, and left knee condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 1, 2007.

The Veteran's right knee and hip conditions are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is also secondary to his service-connected bilateral hip disability remains pending.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disability (glaucoma), depression, left hip disability, left ring finger infection, hemorrhoids, and kidney stones. The new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were generally granted. Service connection was established for bilateral eye cataracts due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM II). The cervical spine disability received initial ratings of 10 percent prior to June 28, 2016, and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's TDIU claim from July 31, 2017, is moot due to his combined 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records and STRs, as well as VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his back, right hip, and right leg disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, finding that it is not at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip condition, secondary to his non-service-connected left leg disability. The claims for service connection for a left leg disability and skin condition of hands are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension based on the determination that the evidence of record was against a finding that his hypertension manifested during, or was otherwise etiologically related to, his active military service. The additional evidence received since the December 2014 Board decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, left and right knee conditions, left and right hip conditions, a cervical spine condition, arthritis of multiple joints, and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for back disability, but denied for thyroid cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically the morphine prescribed for his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and left hip disabilities, which are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back and right hip conditions are not service-connected as they did not develop during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right knee and bilateral hip conditions were not incurred in service or related to his already service-connected left knee condition. The Veteran's headaches are also denied.