Hip Board decisions

The case is being remanded to reschedule the Appellant for a local hearing before regional office decision makers. The issues on appeal include service connection for cause of death, dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, left knee disability, and left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss. The issues regarding increased ratings for his left hip conditions are also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including as due to parachute jumping or in-service motor vehicle accident. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and a lumbar spine disability has been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during the pendency of his claims. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support the presence of these disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, finding no current disability. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as her combined rating of 90% supports this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, low back disability, left hip and leg disabilities, headaches, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen previously denied claims for right and left foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his separation examination report and determine if any of the claimed disabilities were related to his active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the January 2010 rating decision. The right hip disability claim was recharacterized and remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right hip disabilities are not service-connected due to their preexistence in service and lack of aggravation during service. The VA examiner found no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability or carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right elbow and hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right hip disability was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities are not attributable to service or service-connected conditions. The claims were denied as secondary service connection was not established.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic hip disorder in service or within one year following the Veteran's separation from service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hip conditions.