The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thigh tumor and bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there is not sufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions, but noted that extra-schedular consideration could be pursued under specific procedures.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection as there is no competent medical evidence linking the left thigh tumor or bilateral hip degenerative joint disease to military service. The Veteran's lay assertions are not considered competent evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.,For TDIU, the Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements due to his service-connected disabilities and noted that extra-schedular consideration could be pursued under specific procedures.
- Claimed conditions
- left thigh tumor, right hip degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1737664
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1737664.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including chronic right foot metatarsalgia at digit 3,4,5, left shoulder bicep tendonitis, right hip degenerative joint disease, hypertension, right shoulder bicep tendonitis, headaches, left hip degenerative joint disease, and atrial fibrillation with residual non ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding inadequate opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right hip degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve problem. The issues related to right knee degenerative arthritis are also remanded as they are intertwined with the IVDS claim.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the conditions were diagnosed within one year of discharge from active service and are causally related to active service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.