Hip Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left knee and left ankle disabilities, low back disability, lung disorder as a result of asbestos exposure, left hip disability, and residuals of a fracture of the nose. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was not considered as the appeal is not about service connection at all. The Veteran's increased evaluation claims for his left ankle disability were denied prior to June 25, 2002 and granted with a 40% evaluation from that date onwards.

The Board found no evidence of a currently diagnosed bilateral knee, hip, or low back disability that was first manifested during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding any relationship between these disabilities and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, hip, leg, hearing loss, lung disability (other than pulmonary tuberculosis), skin disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for further development of the Veteran's service records and medical records. The issues on appeal are whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a right hip disability and a low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran contends that these disabilities are more severe than the current ratings suggest.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a higher rating for either of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he has been granted service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities. He was denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear but his claim of reopening a previously denied claim for hearing loss in the left ear remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any service-connected right hip/thigh, left ankle, or cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied his claims for left hip disability and sciatica. The evidence did not show sufficient impairment to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right hip, low back, and diabetes mellitus disabilities. However, further development is needed to ensure all relevant medical records are obtained and to provide a thorough examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left lower extremity disability due to service, but his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants an initial rating of 20 percent. The anxiety disorder is rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities were denied. His TDIU claim was added to the appeal but is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and review, including reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip disability or low back disability due to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for an increased disability rating for scars of the right mid back of neck. The Board is unable to readjudicate the remaining claims as it lacks jurisdiction over them.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral heel stress fractures and related disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's right hip disability, fatigue, sleep disorder, gastrointestinal disability with diarrhea, and muscle aches. The ratings assigned are all at their maximum levels (100% for each condition).

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral hip condition, which he claims is related to his service-connected right knee internal derangement. The Board has scheduled the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing and remanded the case due to the failure to reschedule his previously scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but did not provide an opinion on whether he is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee or hip disabilities as secondary to his back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is related to his service, and whether it is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities. The issue will be reconsidered under both direct and secondary theories of service connection.