Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hip disabilities are rated at 10 percent since October 26, 2017. The initial rating for the right and left hips is granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 2011 final denial is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed low back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left hip, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his right knee disability. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating these conditions were more likely caused by non-service connected factors such as leg length discrepancy from a previous femur fracture.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence demonstrating a present disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder is secondary to his service-connected left foot disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot and left hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within a year after discharge. The VA examiner concluded these disabilities are unrelated to his service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right hip disability to include right hip bursitis and arthritis had their onset during active service, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for vertiginous migraines and headaches of an unspecified nature was granted.,His previously denied claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been reopened, with the new evidence showing current symptoms and linking them to his service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was found to have moderate limitation of motion, warranting a 10% rating. The Board determined that the evidence did not support an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee instability has been granted a 30% rating for the entire period on appeal.,The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining new VA medical opinions regarding his right hip disability and considering whether he is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, right knee, bilateral hip, and right foot conditions have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a back condition has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not suffer a traumatic hip injury during his active service and concluded that his right hip condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee and lower leg, right hip, and low back disabilities are not considered service-connected as they are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain relevant SSA records and schedule him for a VA examination regarding his left hip disability. The examiner will provide opinions on the likelihood of service connection for his left knee, lower back, and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic/severe headaches, left hip condition, mental health condition, right arm condition, right hand condition, right wrist condition, scars (right shoulder), and spinal condition has been denied.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of $458.00, finding that repayment would result in undue hardship to the Veteran and that collection would not be against equity and good conscience.