Hip decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the search for service treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; coronary artery disease (CAD); vitiligo; thoracolumbar spine condition; right knee condition; left knee condition; right hip condition; and bilateral hand condition. The Board found no evidence to support a direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and left hip conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board found that there is no evidence linking this condition to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral hip disability, which he claims is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hip condition and his service-connected lumbar disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left or right hip disability that was incurred in service, onset to a compensable degree within one year of his separation from service, or caused by service or caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left hip disability, and bilateral leg numbness. The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected PTSD.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not diagnosed during service or linked to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is pending and requires a DRO hearing at the next available opportunity. The Board has not made a determination on service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis and bilateral hip disability are at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected right knee arthritis, s/p arthroscopic surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, stomach disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and left hip disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for lumbar spine, hip disabilities, and skin disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip conditions and found that there was an in-service aggravation of his pre-existing bilateral hip condition, which warrants service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and sleep disability, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical opinion to support secondary service connection based on his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus with an effective date of December 3, 2009. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any other overseas location where he could have been exposed to herbicides. Therefore, his claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lumbar spine disability, a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a disability manifested by right leg pain and swelling, a disability manifested by left leg pain and swelling, and chronic kidney disease cannot be granted on the basis of presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and gout and arthritis of multiple joints to obtain additional VA examinations and opinions. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the referred petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records. The AOJ will also obtain an addendum opinion from the July 2017 VA examiner regarding the existence, nature, and etiology of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, but no higher ratings are warranted as the evidence does not show more than noncompensable flexion or extension.,For his right hip disability, service connection has not been established due to lack of a showing of chronicity in service and insufficient continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals of the issues regarding service connection for low back and bilateral hip conditions.