Hip Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases and insufficient medical nexus to support the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and back disability were denied as there was no evidence of a current condition related to his active service. The claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability and remanded it to determine whether new evidence supports this reopening. The claims for left hip, cardiac, and bilateral knee disabilities are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and an effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits remain in appellate status.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address whether the Veteran's low back and hip disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling addendum opinions from a VA examiner, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any hip disability is related to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and foot disabilities as well as COPD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, back injury, and hip condition are not related to his military service. The claim for Meniere's syndrome is pending as it relates to a different issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hip disability is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right hip conditions are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for nonservice-connected pension and denied service connection for tonsillitis. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right toe condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to lack of medical records.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV). The Board finds that the criteria for service connection for headaches have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of records from the Social Security Administration and VA medical facilities.

The Board found that the reductions of the Veteran's disability ratings from 30 percent to 10 percent for his service-connected left hip disorder, and from 20 percent to 10 percent for his service-connected right hip disorder were proper based on evidence showing actual improvement in the overall disabilities under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from before September 2000 and arranging for medical evaluations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities. The appeal will be considered on its merits after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip, back, hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, or left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the disabilities at issue, including private medical records that have been added to the record.