Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left knee disability and right hip disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for a higher rating of the right knee is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hip or ankle conditions, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The cervical spine condition claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board due to lack of evidence supporting his assertions or current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of hip disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records, scheduling examinations, and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, right and left foot disabilities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected knee strains. The Veteran's current hip and foot conditions are not considered service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right hip condition and the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal of a June 2013 rating decision was not timely filed, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral hip disability based on new and material evidence. The Veteran's current bilateral hip disability is being remanded for further examination to determine its etiology, as well as for consideration of any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right knee, left knee, right hip, or left hip disabilities and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims can be decided, including a new VA examination for his herpes simplex condition and an addendum opinion regarding his low back disability. The case will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for aseptic necrosis of the left femoral head and granted service connection for a current left hip disability, finding that the injury occurred during INACDUTRA in January 1982.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to all claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical nexus opinion to address the relationship between his service-connected bilateral pes planus and his claimed low back, hip, and knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, cervical, left hip, and right hip disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his left leg numbness and tingling, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hip disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and the criteria for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical strain, left wrist strain, and hemorrhoids were not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as service connection for neurological damage to the arms and legs, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, and osteoarthritis of the knees are denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability or bilateral hearing loss.