Hip decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, back condition, and bilateral big toe condition. The claim for bilateral hip condition is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and an ulcer disease, but reopened these claims. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is not supported by evidence showing a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee, as well as right and left hip disabilities are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip, left knee, and back disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability or any other service-connected condition. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an eye disability, dizziness, headaches, a back disability, and a right hip disability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues at his August 2017 Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claims for right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities were previously denied due to lack of evidence showing a relationship with service.,Service connection for the heart disability was also denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it existed prior to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran is also entitled to service connection for his right hip condition as secondary to his right knee condition, but not for his right knee scar.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the knees. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability and granted service connection. However, there is no established diagnosis of ankylosis in his left knee, thus preventing the grant of service connection for that condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and hip disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year following separation from service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her attorney prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and right hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's left hip disability resulted in severe postoperative residuals, necessitating a temporary total rating until May 31, 2011. The Board has granted an extension of this rating to May 31, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions were not causally or etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since January 7, 2016. This grant of a higher rating is effective as of that date.,The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities prior to September 22, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lung disability, bilateral knee and hip disabilities, low back disability, neck disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and depressive disorder. The new evidence supports reopening these claims.

The Veteran's DM was not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. The right ankle disorder was not found on examination. The left hip disability and headache were also not found.,DM: Service connection denied as the condition was not present during service and cannot be presumed due to its onset more than a year after service. Right Ankle Disorder: No current disability found, no evidence of inservice injury or disease. Left Hip Disability: No current disability found, no evidence of inservice injury or disease. Headache: Service connection denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board found that there was no evidence of continuous or recurrent right hip disability symptoms during service and after separation. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current right hip disability is related to active service.