Hip decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations for her claimed disabilities. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, finding that there was no relationship between these conditions and his service-connected back disability or active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee disability, hip disability, or bilateral arm disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's hip and back disabilities are being remanded for additional development as the current VA examination did not adequately address the relationship between service, including parachute jumps, and his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The tinnitus claim was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip condition and rotated torso (back condition) are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and review of her medical records. The issues include service connection for knee and hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, arm and wrist disability, neck disability, back disability, leg disability (including varicose veins and blood clots), lung disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorder), and hip disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected stress fracture right tibia. The hip disability was also found not to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for thoracic spine and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's attorney is seeking to incorporate a cervical spine disability into her back claim, but the Board does not have jurisdiction over this issue as it was not adjudicated by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, including right femoral exuberant osteophytosis and osteoarthritis, is attributable to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected bilateral hip disability and the nature and severity of any scars related to her hip surgeries.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The remaining claims of service connection for right hip, GERD, and skin disabilities are remanded as the Veteran has not been provided a VA examination to assess these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a nose fracture, bilateral feet (right and left), right hip disability, left hip disability, eye floaters, hemorrhoids, and right ear chondritis and actinic keratoses. The appeals are granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's left and right hip disabilities are currently rated at a non-compensable level (10%) due to functional loss caused by painful motion, with flexion of at least 110 degrees and extension greater than 5 degrees. The evidence does not support an increase in rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the hands, hips, or low back that are related to service. The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations to determine the etiology of sleep apnea and hip disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability has been found to be aggravated by his service-connected left hip disability, and thus service connection is granted.