Hip decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and conducting a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various joint disorders are now pending before the Board.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hip disability and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has been notified by the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 2, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, for myofascial lumbar pain, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current hip or foot disabilities, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to withdrawal of appeals by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and sciatic neuropathy are found to be secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain. The Board also finds that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for lumbar spine DDD and degenerative changes, as well as bilateral hip disability. Further examination is needed to determine if left knee and left foot disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including cervical strain, tension headaches, right hip disability, and right hand disability. The Board has determined that additional examination and opinion are needed to address the relationship between these disabilities and active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and left foot disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU were met.