Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite injury to both feet, finding no evidence linking the current disability to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of frostbite and a back disability, finding that she does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite of the right hand and both feet, but denied a higher initial evaluation for residuals of frostbite of the left hand.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, claimed as residuals of frostbite and jungle rot, finding no competent evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The veteran's claim is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including medical examinations and a review of his claims folder. The case will be reconsidered after this process.

The Board found that arthritis of the right hand and residuals of frostbite of the feet were not incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of frostbite of the lower extremities and feet are linked to his exposure to cold temperatures during service in Korea, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran does not have peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities that is service-connected. Service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite residuals, paresthesia of the left foot and right foot as there is no competent evidence that these conditions are related to his period of active service. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional VA and private medical records are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection. The veteran is also required to provide information about any relevant treatment he received outside of VA.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim for the residuals of frostbite to both lower extremities filed prior to November 22, 2000. As such, an effective date earlier than November 22, 2000, for the grant of service connection for these residuals is not established.

The veteran's current foot and leg disabilities are due to occlusive arterial disease, not related to frostbite or other injury in service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current frostbite or any residual disability resulting from service-connected frostbite. Therefore, the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including frostbite of the hands and feet, hypertension, a right shoulder disability, a back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, pes planus, residuals of a foot fracture, tailbone disability, diabetes mellitus, and glaucoma. The decision was based on the conclusion that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for frostbite of the hands and feet, and that these conditions were not incurred in service or due to any other service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss. The increased evaluation claims for residuals of frozen feet and frostbite are pending as the status is unknown.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have any residuals of cold injury related to his military service and therefore denies the claim for service connection. The veteran's metatarsal callous is currently rated as 10% disabling, and there is no basis for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for disability of the eyes, hearing loss, residuals of a frostbite injury, left hip condition, and asthma have all been denied. The Board is unable to make a determination on these claims as there are no effective dates provided in the decision.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current foot disorders, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of frostbite to his feet did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death, which was due to hepatitis C and liver cancer.

The veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection for certain diseases based on his status as a former prisoner of war, provided he was interned or detained for at least 30 days.