Hip Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, cervical spine, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are denied. The issues of service connection for headaches (secondary to a cervical spine disability) and temporomandibular joint disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was a congenital/developmental defect pre-existing service, and thus rebutted the presumption of soundness on entry. The examiner opined that the current spondylolysis with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is congenital/developmental (and was recognized prior to service). As such, the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected. For his right hip disability, there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or post-service, and thus it cannot be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip condition that is etiologically related to her service-connected left knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the bilateral hip condition.

The Veteran's low back, knee, hip, and psychiatric conditions are being remanded for further examination and development. The claims for hepatitis C will also be remanded.

The Veteran's right hip disability is found to have onset during service and granted. The Veteran does not currently have hearing loss of the right ear or residuals of a left calf contusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip condition is etiologically related to his service-connected mild degenerative disc changes at L5-S1, and thus grants service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for right hip disability, left foot/ankle disability, visual impairment, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the left femur fracture with intramedullary rod placement was upheld, as his disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a video-conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has ordered an additional VA examination to address whether the Veteran's left hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected knee and low back disabilities. The case will be reviewed again under a merits analysis.

The Veteran does not have a left hip disability or lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities that were caused or aggravated by his service, or by a service-connected disability. His combined evaluation is 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bronchiectasis and bronchitis, asthma, GERD, hypertension, bilateral eye disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and right hip disability. The Veteran's appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection, and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disability and degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim for lumbar disc disease was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The effective date for this connection is set at December 16, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his PTSD claim. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral elbow condition, and right hip condition secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fracture of left distal fibula and posterior tibial malleolus are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left hip disability and the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral thigh and hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The RO must schedule a VA orthopedic examination and an audiological examination to address these matters.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability and denied her claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for genital warts and moderate dysplasia of the cervix, status-post LEEP, residuals of active HPV. The appeal is based on reopening of a previously denied claim.