Hip Board decisions

The Board has determined that recoupment of the Veteran's disability severance pay is not proper because his service-connected right lower extremity disability (peripheral vascular disease) is different from the condition for which he received disability severance pay (right hip disability).

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is service-connected, and he has a current right ankle sprain disability that warrants a 10% evaluation. The claim for service connection for a right hip disability was denied as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's current right hip disability is related to his active duty service, including any potential continuity of symptomatology from service. Additional development is needed, such as obtaining updated VA treatment records and possibly procuring a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left hip disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, is being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary deficiencies.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and low back disorder, including as secondary to the right hip disability. The initial rating claim for the right hip disability remains before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left hip disability are not related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of secondary service connection theories. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities did not arise during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the current condition and service. The left hip disability was also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing proper VCAA notification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, hip disability, and back disability. The decision found that preexisting pes planus was not aggravated during active military service, there is no evidence of a current bilateral knee or hip disability related to active military service, and there is no evidence of spinal arthritis within one year following discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability and residuals of a stress fracture of the right second metatarsal are found to be related to service. The claim for secondary service connection for psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records from the Fayetteville VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right elbow and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that referral to the VA Compensation and Pension Service is warranted for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right hand disability (claimed as residuals of a fracture of the third finger), right hip disability, bone disorder (claimed as residuals of fractured ribs), and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, including on a secondary basis. The appeal is currently remanded to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right leg disability incurred in service and denies his claim for increased rating of his right knee disability. The current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects the functional loss due to pain, weakened movement, excess fatigability, or incoordination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's hip disability is being considered in relation to his service-connected knee and back disabilities.