Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected bilateral residuals of frozen feet were rated at 10 percent prior to January 12, 1998. From that date, he was granted a separate 10 percent rating for each foot.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinea pedis, and frostbite of the feet. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet, finding that the veteran's current conditions were not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for frostbite of the feet, finding no competent evidence linking current disabilities to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% evaluation for residuals of frostbite of the feet with mild peripheral neuropathy, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that he met the criteria prior to August 28, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite, to include a right great toe amputation, and Buerger's disease with a right great toe amputation are not well grounded.

The veteran's bilateral frostbite of the feet resulted in a 20% evaluation effective January 12, 1998.,Service connection for a bilateral hip disorder was denied based on new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the feet, a neck disorder, and a low back disorder due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite to the hands and feet has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the feet and an increased evaluation for his shell fragment wound of the right back, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of frostbite of the lower extremities, effective from February 28, 1997, for accrued benefits purposes. The claim for PTSD was denied as it did not meet the well-grounded criteria. An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for the residuals of frostbite of the lower extremities was also denied.

The veteran's claim for restoration of a 10 percent rating for residuals of frostbite of the left foot from December 1, 1994 to January 12, 1998 was granted. Her claim for an increased rating for costochondritis of the thoracic cage remains pending.,The veteran's costochondritis of the thoracic cage is currently rated at 10 percent since May 24, 1994.

The veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of both feet and shrapnel wound to the face and head are granted. However, his claims for loss of saliva gland, hearing loss, and arthritis are not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the right foot, peripheral neuropathy of both feet, and fibrositis are not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions.