Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite and peripheral neuropathy, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service cold injury. The mental disorder claim is addressed separately.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is remanding the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for residuals of frostbite of the hands is granted as his current condition is related to his period of active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, bilateral knee disorders, hemorrhoids, frostbite of the feet, hands, and ears, a finger disability, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis on allergen exposure. The decision is based on the merits of the cases without invoking any presumptive or secondary service connection theories.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet and hands, as well as his increased disability ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities. The RO must now consider additional evidence before making a final decision on these claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for pyorrhea and frostbite of the right great toe, finding that there was no evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension or residuals of frostbite to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and adjudication due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of frostbite of the feet are service-connected, with some symptoms and problems in the lower extremities being due to peripheral arterial disease unrelated to cold injury to the feet.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of frostbite of the hands, finding no symptomatology related to the service-connected condition and concluding that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current painful feet are related to his service-connected frostbite, and he is granted a compensable rating for his corneal scar. The appeal is granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer any disability of the hands related to inservice exposure to cold, nor is any current disability of the hands otherwise related to his active duty service.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection for residuals of frostbite was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of frostbite of the ears and hearing loss is granted, as his current conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, frostbite of both feet, ulnar neuropathy of the left arm, and a shrapnel wound to the left arm, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of frostbite of the left arm and hand are a result of cold exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and review of the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left below-the-knee amputation is a residual of his service-connected frostbite residuals of both feet, and therefore secondary to those disabilities. The claim for an increased rating for frostbite residuals of both feet remains pending.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected headaches due to traumatic brain injury was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.