Citation Nr: 21015906
Decision Date: 03/18/21	Archive Date: 03/18/21

DOCKET NO. 15-08 912
DATE: March 18, 2021

ORDER

Service connection for left hip disability, including left hip strain and arthritis, is granted.

FINDING OF FACT

Left hip strain and arthritis is due to service connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis.  

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for service connection for a left hip strain and arthritis have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1112, 1131, 1137, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303, 3.307, 3.309, 3.310(a).  

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran served on active duty from August 1981 to August 1983.  The Board thanks him for his service.  He appeals for service connection for a left hip disability based upon a claim filed in November 2013.  He and a witness provided testimony during a May 2018 hearing before the undersigned, a transcript of which is of record and is being considered in this decision.  

A veteran can receive compensation via secondary service connection, which can be established when a disability is shown to be proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. To be awarded secondary service connection, there must be evidence sufficient to show: (1) that a current disability exists, and (2) that the current disability was either (a) caused by or (b) aggravated by a service-connected disability. Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 439, 448 (1995) (en banc); 38 C.F.R. § 3.310.

Based on the evidence, the Board concludes that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's current left hip disability, which a July 2019 VA examination report and a December 2019 VA medical record identify as left hip strain and arthritis.  The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran’s left hip disability was caused by the Veteran's service connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis. As a result, the Board need not address alternate theories of entitlement.  

An August 2019 VA medical opinion prepared by a physician who reviewed the claims file concluded that “the left hip disability is at least as likely as not related to the back issues caused in service.” The examiner explained that back pain can cause hip problems and that “long standing back issues will eventually cause hip . . . problems.” There is no contrary medical opinion of record.

 

Accordingly, the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran’s left hip strain and arthritis are related to his service-connected back disability. Service connection for a left hip disability, diagnosed as left hip strain and arthritis, is granted.  

 

M. C. GRAHAM

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	C. Lawson

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.