Hip Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, leg disability, and hip disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his skin condition, hip conditions, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including ankylosing spondylitis and its associated symptoms such as right ankle, bilateral hip, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for further examination by a rheumatologist.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's service periods and obtain relevant medical records. The claims for service connection will be remanded pending this development.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance of another was granted. The appeal regarding CUE with respect to a June 13, 2002 rating decision that denied entitlement to special monthly compensation is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of permanent aggravation of the veteran's thoracic spine condition due to military service. The Board also concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection for his bilateral hip and right elbow conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee and hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and are not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of ankle and hip injuries due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The VA examiner found that the veteran's bilateral hip disability was more likely caused by metastatic prostate cancer, not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hand, left hip, left knee, left ankle and tailbone/back disabilities are related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is causing or aggravating his left hip, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of these secondary conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hip and back conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis and a hip condition, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or medical nexus to service.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation and earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities was granted. He is now rated at 20 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right abdomen, with an effective date back to March 27, 1997.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, shoulder disorders, hip condition, knee and ankle issues, foot and toe joint problems, fatigue, and joint problems. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee, hip, foot, back, and respiratory disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions were determined to have existed prior to service and no aggravation was shown during service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's hip disability, effective March 2005. The veteran is also entitled to a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee joint space narrowing.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a right shoulder injury, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a back injury. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and a low back disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and further investigation is needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disability and there is no evidence linking it to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied.