Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2001

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a member of the Board at the local Regional Office in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet due to new and material evidence. The issue of entitlement to service connection for defective hearing remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependence, shell fragment wounds of the legs (other than residuals of the left calf), residuals of dysentery, and residuals of frostbite as there is no medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected frostbite residuals of both feet prior to January 12, 1998 and separately for each foot on or after that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability and left arm disability, including residuals of frostbite of the hand and fingers. The veteran's current foot disabilities were not present during her active military service or for many years after her separation from service and did not have their origin during service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite, including an associated dental condition was denied as not well grounded due to the lack of evidence in his service medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cold injury (frostbite), hypertension, a heart disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and a circulatory disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The veteran's depression is granted service connection, but his tinea pedis and frostbite claims are denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have residuals of frostbite and frozen feet which had their onset in service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, residuals of cold injury/frostbite of the feet, allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, and lung/respiratory disorder due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current diagnoses.