Hip Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current umbilical hernia is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's request to reschedule the hearing has been granted, and he has 90 days from the date of the letter to give notice that he is available for a new hearing. If he does not respond within 90 days, this case will be returned to the Board for appellate review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip disability as aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim for an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability is also granted, with a current rating of 20 percent.

The claim of service connection for a right hip disability remains in appellate status.,The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a left knee disability and right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for head trauma residuals and left eye disability are not established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, right hip condition, and low back condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right hip disability was aggravated by his service, particularly due to his duties as a tank operator and prolonged physical training.

The Board has remanded the case for an adequate VA examination to determine if any current diagnosed hip disability is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by military service or a service connected disability, including the bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's claim remains pending and will be readjudicated after the requested development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip disability has been denied as there is no medical evidence of a current left hip disability in the record.

The Veteran's left hip disability has been manifested by pain, weakness, stiffness, deformity, instability, locking, and lack of endurance with flexion to 80 degrees and abduction to 35 degrees. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip disability was not aggravated by service and denied his claims for left knee and low back disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for a left hip disability and low back disability. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the records necessary to adjudicate his claims had not been located and that he was provided with proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of his claimed disabilities, including low back, bilateral hip, left knee, bilateral foot, and bilateral hand disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left wrist laceration do not warrant an initial schedular disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically post-surgical residuals of left foot calcaneus fracture with short extensor muscle tear, metatarsal dislocation and traumatic arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service, or by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disabilities but denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right and left hip disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or post-service that is related to the Veteran's military service, and denied his claim for service connection.