Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current hip or knee disability, and the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability has been denied. The Board also found that some issues have been remanded, including service connection claims for a bilateral hip condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip, knee, and ankle condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residual scar from a gunshot wound to the thigh.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of right hip disability due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and opioid pain medications. The claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, bilateral ocular disability, respiratory disability, hypogonadism with erectile dysfunction, skin condition, recurrent sprains of the left ankle, recurrent sprains of the right ankle, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post left foot tendon release with benign tumor of the plantar surface with plantar fasciitis, and status post right foot tendon release with benign tumor of the plantar surface with plantar fasciitis are all denied. The Veteran is granted a 50 percent rating for tension-migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claim for psychosis or mental illness, left and right hip disability, major depressive disorder, and entitlement to TDIU is denied as he did not have qualifying wartime service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip disability, right ear hearing loss, or right knee disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as neck disability), lumbar disability, sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip, knee, ankle, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were related to service or any other compensable period.,The Veteran's assertions that his current disabilities are related to parachute jumps during service were not supported by credible medical evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TDIU claim requires additional evidence and a new examination due to the lack of information about his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is not found to be the cause of his left hip condition. The Board finds no evidence supporting a higher rating for the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, neck, left hip, and right knee conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's STRs were lost, and further search did not yield any results. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip disability, finding that it is related to an injury sustained during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The hip condition is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol and knee disabilities, due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is found to be related to her in-service injury, and she is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of right hip pain and bilateral heel pain, but remands for further development to determine if these conditions are secondary to her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability, including as due to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current left hip disability is not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the service-connected right hip disability contributed to the Veteran's death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to new evidence and for verification of service dates. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.