Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's back disability and PN of the bilateral lower extremities are related to his service, specifically jumping from helicopters in Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's right leg condition (right knee strain) is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a bilateral hip disability, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions during his period of active duty or post-service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip disability and an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as these issues were not adequately addressed in previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination for the Veteran's right hip disability and to consider the applicability of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right foot, and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any impairment or diagnoses of a headache disability or disabilities of the hip, knees, legs, ankles, feet, a deviated septum, or a heart disability related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right hip conditions and avascular necrosis, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's right hip disability, which was rated at 30 percent prior to January 8, 2016, has been increased to a 70 percent rating effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remanding for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy, myeloma, surgical scars as secondary to lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide a history of any other injuries or events in service that may be associated with his disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for several issues, including those related to a right breast cyst, disability of the right thumb and fingers, Raynaud’s syndrome of the hands, spider veins of the thighs, and scar of the right thigh. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia is not service-connected.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is also remanded for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of right infraorbital and right temple shrapnel wounds, a right arm shrapnel wound, a right buttock shrapnel wound, and a right leg shrapnel wound have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disability other than left hand scars, to include arthritis; right knee disability, to include arthritis; back disability; and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, to include sciatica are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left hip disability and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, left hip, and right knee conditions due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the one-year presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability and mid/low back disability. The left hip condition issue is remanded due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left hip disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability) due to insufficient evidence. A VA examination is required to determine if these disabilities are related to the Veteran's active duty service.