The Board found that the Veteran's right hip disability and left hip disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by, service-connected degenerative disc disease, residual of low back injury.,The Board also found that there was no demonstration by competent clinical, or competent and credible lay, evidence of record that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease, residual of low back injury, results in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by the VA examiner indicated that the Veteran's bilateral hip condition was not likely related to his lower back condition or service-connected injuries. The examiner also noted that the pain and avascular necrosis were diagnosed in 2003, after the Veteran's active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Disability, Left Hip Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2011
- Citation
- 1112727
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1112727.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right hip disability, finding that her current 10 percent rating adequately reflects her symptoms and limitations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for both a right hip disability and a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's observable symptoms of pain and stiffness began during his active service and have persisted.
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