Hip decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his representative requesting withdrawal of the appeals for several issues, including those related to service connection and evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset in active service or within one year thereafter, and the absence of a causal relationship between these conditions and service or service-connected right foot callus.

The Veteran's claim for a right hip disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD with TBI remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any poly-joint pain, to include hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim is pending further action.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches and left hip disability were not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation, and are unrelated to his service-connected conditions. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and an opinion regarding the nature of his hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is etiologically related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability, maxilla-mandibular atrophy status post reconstruction and right hip bone graft surgery for compensation purposes, and OSA did not have onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.,There is no evidence of a chronic condition in service, and there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted it. The issues of service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle disabilities, and migraine headaches are all addressed on remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disability or bilateral hip disability etiologically linked to service. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to post-service injuries and surgeries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since November 18, 2005. The effective date for the increased rating of PTSD remains unclear due to pending development. Other issues remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current, separate disabilities in her hips, hands, fingers, knees, ankles, or feet that are distinct from her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis. As such, she is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including heart attacks/stress, pinched nerve in back, right hip condition, traumatic brain injury, and others. The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain his service personnel records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his sleep apnea, right knee disability, and right hip disability.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability had its onset during service, was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right foot and ankle disabilities, or is otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disability did not manifest within a year of his separation from active duty service and was not related to or caused by his active duty service.